Israel Receives Sixth Advanced 'Drakon' Submarine from Germany

Israel has officially received its sixth submarine, the INS Drakon, built by the German company TKMS. The vessel departed from Kiel, Germany, on September 1, 2026, flying the Israeli flag and is en route to its new homeport at the naval base in Haifa, where a state ceremony is planned. The formal handover of the submarine to the Israeli Navy had previously occurred in a closed-door event. Following sea trials, the INS Drakon departed Kiel under Israeli command for its journey to Israel.

The INS Drakon is the third and final submarine in the Dolphin II class equipped with an air-independent propulsion (AIP) system. This advanced technology utilizes fuel cells for electricity generation, eliminating the need for atmospheric oxygen and allowing the diesel-electric submarine to remain submerged for extended periods, potentially weeks, significantly reducing its detectability during prolonged missions. Open-source data indicates the Drakon measures approximately 73-74 meters in length with a submerged displacement of around 2,400 tons, capable of diving to depths of at least 350 meters.

Israeli sources consider the INS Drakon to be the most advanced submarine in the nation's navy. Its development and construction spanned approximately 14 years, with an estimated cost of $550 million, according to Israeli media reports. The departure from Kiel was accompanied by a significant security operation involving German forces.

Initially, the submarine was intended to be named INS Dakar, in memory of an Israeli submarine lost at sea in 1968 with all 69 crew members. However, this name was changed following protests from the families of the deceased. The name Dakar has since been reserved for a new generation of submarines currently under construction for Israel by Germany, with deliveries expected in the early 2030s to replace the older Dolphin-class submarines.