December 24, 2000

Israel has received INS Tekuma, the third and last of three submarines built by HDW of Germany. The first two were Dolphin and Leviathan, which arrived in Israel last year. The commander of the Israeli Navy, Captain Yusseff (his last name is never published) insists that while the Submarines carry Harpoon anti-ship missiles they have no nuclear weapons. The three advanced submarines will replace the five older subs of the Gal class, which will start retiring next year.--Stephen V Cole