Israel, continues its close association with TKMS in construction of German built submarines. This is in the context of a highly rational rolling replacement program of submarine generations. Since Israeli independence Israel appears to have automatically chosen Germany's TKMS because the German Government (post Holocaust) heavily subsidizes/reduces the cost of TKMS subs to Israel.
Also Germany is an attractive source of submarines because it, like Japan, specialises in producing advanced conventional (diesel-electric) submarines. This is without the distraction of also producing nuclear propelled submarines.
The chief of Israel's submarine service has indicated the first of three TKMS built [Pete calls them "Dolphin 3s"] is expected to be commissioned in 2030. From the early 2030s the three Dolphin 3's will, on a rolling basis, replace the three Dolphin 1s which were commissioned in 1999–2000. Meanwhile the three Dolphin 2s will operate until approximately 2050.
Thus Israel will maintain a rolling average of six nuclear missile armed Dolphin submarines - Israel's most valuable naval and strategic assets.
A fuller description of the (by 2030) commissioning is at an IHS Jane's article by Yaakov Lappin.
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