German made INS Dolphin. Photo: wiki commons.

After arriving in Germany on Wednesday, an Israeli delegation has officially taken ownership of the Tanin submarine, which will “amplify the capabilities of the IDF and the State of Israel’s strength”, according to Ehud Barak, Israel’s Defense Minister.

The German built submarine is expected to reach Israeli shores next year, according to a statement from the IDF, and will become the fourth submarine in Israel’s arsenal.

“The Navy has undergone strategic changes over the past few years that place it at the forefront of the battle over the safety of Israel, as the long arm of the IDF. The agreement reflects the strong relations with Germany and the German government’s commitment to Israeli security,” Barak stated.

Two additional German built submarines have been ordered by the Israeli government, with the first of the two scheduled to be under Israeli control in 2015 and the second in 2017.