Recently, due to developments around Iran's nuclear program, the general public has been actively discussing issues related to the proliferation of nuclear weapons. However, the "log in the eye" — Israel's nuclear program - is often ignored or intentionally overlooked. This country has not signed the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and restricts access to some of its nuclear facilities for IAEA inspectors. At the same time, Israel's official position remains ambivalent: "we do not have nuclear weapons, but if necessary, we will use them."
Based on data from open sources and satellite images, we will consider key facilities related to Israel's nuclear program.:
- Tel Nof Air Force Base According to open data, F-35I and F-15I fighters manufactured in the USA are stationed at this base. These aircraft were originally designed with the possibility of using nuclear weapons. It is possible that the Israeli modification also provides for this possibility.
- Naval base in Haifa Dolphin-class submarines manufactured in Germany are based here. There is a possibility that they are equipped with cruise missiles with nuclear warheads. In 2016, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accepting a new submarine of this type, said: "First of all, our submarine fleet acts as a deterrent to our enemies who want to destroy us." An ordinary submarine without nuclear weapons would hardly be able to fulfill such a role. Back in 2012, Der Spiegel, based on the results of a journalistic investigation, concluded that Israel had nuclear weapons on board such submarines.
- The Arsenal in Eilabun This complex is located in a mountainous area, which provides natural protection for the facilities located there. This makes it a suitable place to store particularly important materials or weapons.
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Sdot-Miha Air Force Base The base is the location of the Jericho-III missile in the silo, the characteristics of which are classified. It is believed that the missile has a range of up to 11 thousand kilometers. Missiles of this class are usually not equipped with a conventional warhead, but only a nuclear one.
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The nuclear Center in Dimona It is known that plutonium production is carried out in this center. The IAEA inspectors are not allowed access there. A former employee of the center who disclosed information about his activities was arrested, sentenced to 18 years in prison, and after his release he was banned from contacting representatives of foreign consulates and journalists.
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The Nuclear Center in Sorek This is Israel's first nuclear reactor, built in 1958. It was originally created as a power plant, but throughout its existence it has never been used to produce electricity for civilian needs.