adsH said:
GF would you say the Dolphins are one of the more capable Subs compared to the Augusta 90 B being built at Pak Docks.
GF i think Israel is on a road to self improvements i think they feel threatened by the growing sophistication and numbers of quality vessels in the Red sea RSN has procured four french stealth Frigates and has other very capable platforms. i think they are interested in the Alkhalid Class Subs built in Pakistan.
The capability of the platform is important, but the capability of the crew is more important. eg, It's been said a few times that in Kuwait or Iraq, that the US or UK tankers could have swapped places and driven T-72'sm the Iraquis could have had M1's and Chally's and that the US/UK tankers would still have won.
Thats because they train harder, train realistically and have the advantage of places like Salisbury Hill and Aberdeen to refine their tactics.
To be honest, I do not see the RSN as a capable skimmer navy. The French have been enormously frustrated at trying to train Saudi Sailors and Airmen due to a number of differences. The Israelis are more focussed at war fighting, better integrated, better motivated and culturally attuned to delivering what they see as essential behaviours to "win".
Any Navy in that region would need to accord the Israeli Dolphins a high degree of respect, and if they do manage to get new 212's or 214's off Germany, that will elevate them a number of levels again over their potential enemies.
You need to remember that Israel has absolutely dominated their enemies at ratio's of 10:1 against them, that is 3 times higher than the normal ratio of an attacking force to a defender. 3:1 is seen as the winnable ration. They have held out at 10:1. It is only recently (last 20 years) where there has been a substantial shift in equipment levels and quality. Prior to Lebanon, all of the OPFORs had notional superiority in both equipment numbers and in some areas "of type". Israel has dominated on uneven terms due to national focus and a warfighting psyche.
The excuse that is typically used is that US money and equipment is the reason why they win. That fails to stand up to even cursory investigation (even the Russian assessments acknowledged that Israeli dominance had very very little to do with US equipment but more to do with focus)
In short, the RSN is no match for Israeli subs, even though they are export Lafayettes. (India has also had some involvement with training Saudi naval officers, and their experiences have been just as frustrating as those experienced by the French)
