A big one. As Haaretz reports:
European Countries Restrict Defense Supplies to Israel, Disrupting Naval Buildup. Israeli military officials say European countries are withholding components for German-built Israeli warships and denying vessels port access, as the IDF seeks to expand the navy's strategic role.
What many people constantly forget, having IDF blowing smoke up their asses, is that in terms of military-industrial complex Israel is not and never was a superpower. It produced a decent Merkava tank a few types of artillery and firearms, it also built "indigenous" Lavi fighter plane (a stolen F-16) which resulted in scandal with Reagan Admin, and she built some nukes. But in terms of everything else--most of it is either licensed or, such as the case with Israel's AD, simply products of Boeing or Raytheon with Israeli labels on them. Here is the story in detail:
In recent months, a shift in European defense export policies has begun to affect Israel's military procurement programs. According to reports, multiple European nations have moved to restrict or pause the supply of defense-related materials destined for Israel. These restrictions are creating logistical and strategic challenges for the Israeli defense establishment, specifically regarding the maintenance and expansion of its naval fleet. While the specific countries involved and the exact nature of the restricted equipment remain largely undisclosed in public briefings, the impact on Israel's naval buildup is becoming increasingly apparent. The procurement of specialized components and systems, often sourced from European defense contractors, has faced delays or outright cancellations. This development marks a notable change in the defense cooperation landscape between Israel and its European partners, who have historically been key suppliers of military technology. The situation highlights a growing tension between European foreign policy objectives and long-standing defense partnerships. As European governments face increased domestic and international pressure regarding the conflict in Gaza, defense exports are being scrutinized more heavily. This has led to a more cautious approach to approving export licenses for military hardware. For Israel, the disruption is forcing a re-evaluation of its supply chain dependencies, as the country seeks to ensure its naval readiness despite the loss of access to certain European markets and technologies.
Here is IDF's submarine component:
Israel operates 3 Dolphin-I and 2 Dolphin-II class SSKs--all of them built in Germany. Israel cannot build submarines, nor can it build major surface combatants. It can build missile boats, that is the extent of it. Once one removes a lot of stolen (including literally) European and US technology--Israel doesn't look that impressive, to put it mildly. Israel's naval ambitions rest entirely on foreign-built technology. They certainly "upgrade" (as was done by Israel before) some ships with whatever they deem superior, but the reality is sad for Israel. As it was with BiBi today at the UN.
