The INS Drakon is a bridge between two generations of submarines and represents a broader technological transformation of Israel's most secretive fleet.
Israel’s most technologically advanced submarine, the INS Drakon, is on its way from Germany, expanding the navy’s operational capabilities for years to come. Israel’s submarine corps has long been the most discreet arm of the IDF, operating far from public view and even farther from the country’s shores. Over the past three decades, the fleet has evolved from the original Dolphinclass into the larger, more capable Dolphin II platforms, and now, the recently delivered INS Drakon. The INS Drakon is Israel’s sixth submarine and is expected to arrive at Haifa Port within weeks.
It was built along with German shipbuilder ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) and is equipped with “innovative and advanced technologies that place Israel at the forefront of global military technology and will enhance the Israel Navy’s operational flexibility for years to come,” the military said.
The foundation of the country's submarine fleet was laid with the three Dolphin-class submarines delivered between 1999 and 2000: the INS Dolphin, INS Leviathan, and INS Tekumah. Built in Germany and customized for Israeli requirements, these diesel-electric boats were designed around a compact hull, modern sonar systems for their era, and a mixed battery of torpedo tubes. (Read More)
