Updated

The German government says Israel is considering buying new submarines from Germany that would go into service starting in 2027.

Israel has ordered six submarines from Germany over the past two decades. German government spokesman Georg Streiter said Friday that the ones Israel is considering buying now would replace the first submarines Germany supplied.

Streiter says talks are ongoing "at various levels" over the purchase and Germany's potential participation in financing it. He stressed Germany's "special responsibility for the security of the state of Israel."

He didn't give further details. Israeli daily newspaper Maariv reported that Israel plans to buy three new submarines.