Israel Navy's Newest Submarine, INS Drakon, Arrives After 23-Day Journey

The Israeli Navy's sixth submarine, INS Drakon, arrived off the coast of Israel on Thursday morning, completing a 3,792 nautical mile journey from Germany that lasted 23 days. Journalists were aboard a naval vessel to witness the final leg of the submarine's historic maiden voyage to its home base in Haifa. All electronic devices were confiscated from the press due to strict field security regulations.

INS Drakon, part of the Dolphin 2 class, measures 74 meters and weighs 2,600 tons, making it the largest and heaviest submarine ever to serve in the Israeli Navy. Its official handover from ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems in Kiel, Germany, followed approximately 12 years of planning, construction, and testing. Lieutenant Colonel 'A', the submarine's commander, described the experience as incredibly moving, having lived in Germany for three years to oversee its construction.

The acquisition of INS Drakon is linked to controversial deals worth about $2 billion with ThyssenKrupp, which were central to the "Submarine Affair" corruption scandal. A state inquiry commission recently concluded that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pushed for the sixth submarine based on flawed assumptions, deviating from standard decision-making processes. Netanyahu was not indicted in the criminal case, though some former associates were.

The submarine was initially to be named 'Dakar' in memory of a lost Israeli submarine, but 'Drakon' was chosen as a compromise after objections from families of the original Dakar's crew. The crew honored the memory of the original INS Dakar by stopping above its sinking site during their voyage and holding memorial prayers.

INS Drakon features advanced technologies, including an Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) system, significantly extending underwater endurance and enhancing stealth. While the submarine is equipped with cutting-edge systems, it is not yet operational, with Israeli-specific equipment installation and testing expected to take another two to three months. Military officials emphasized the submarine's role in bolstering Israel's strategic defense capabilities and operational flexibility.