Full Breakdown
Israel’s Newest Submarine, INS Drakon, Joins the Fleet
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Arrival and Core Details
On September 24 2026 the Israeli Navy’s sixth submarine, INS Drakon, docked at Haifa Naval Base after a three-week voyage from Kiel, Germany. The 74-metre, 2,600-ton Dolphin 2-class vessel is the largest and heaviest submarine ever operated by Israel. Built by ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, it incorporates air-independent propulsion (AIP), allowing weeks of submerged operation without surfacing. Installation of Israeli weapons and sensor systems is expected to take two to three months before the boat is declared operational.
Background and Procurement Controversy
The Drakon is the final unit of a three-boat Dolphin 2 series purchased under a roughly €3 billion contract signed in 2022. A state commission of inquiry found Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pushed for the sixth submarine based on “unfounded assumptions” and bypassed the standard decision-making process for large military acquisitions. While several of Netanyahu’s confidants have faced criminal charges related to the broader submarine-purchase scandal, Netanyahu himself has not been indicted.
Technical Data and Future Fleet
- Length: 74 m; displacement: 2,600 t (Dolphin 2 class)
- AIP system: enhances stealth “by orders of magnitude” (naval chief Cpt. “Yud”)
- Expected operational readiness: within months after Israeli system integration
- Future Dakar-class submarines: 84 m, 3,800 t; first delivery slated for 2031; three units planned
- Estimated cost of Drakon: around €500 million
Official Statements & Responses
President Isaac Herzog, Defense Minister Israel Katz, and IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir attended the ceremony, emphasizing the vessel’s role in strengthening national defense. Navy officials highlighted the strategic context of maritime chokepoints such as the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb, noting that longer-endurance submarines are essential for monitoring these areas.
Criticism & Opposition
The report flagged the lack of transparent economic analysis presented to the prime minister, suggesting the purchase may not align with Israel’s defense needs.
Why It Matters
The Drakon’s AIP system and larger hull increase both stealth and payload capacity, enabling extended intelligence-gathering, special-operations support, and potential strike missions far from the coast. Israeli officials argue that the Drakon’s advanced systems and experienced crews provide a qualitative edge over regional fleets. Its arrival coincides with heightened regional tensions, including Houthi activity in the Bab el-Mandeb and Iranian maneuvers in the Strait of Hormuz, underscoring the strategic value of a covert, long-range undersea platform.
What’s Next
Israeli officials expect the fitting-out of Israeli systems to be completed within two months, after which the Drakon will be declared operational. The navy is seeking government approval for two additional submarines beyond the planned Dakar trio and is preparing a multiyear expansion plan to be presented to the IDF General Staff by year-end.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The Navy is growing stronger. This is a powerful platform that increases the Israeli Navy’s stealth capabilities,” — Rear Adm. Guy Levy, Navy chief of staff
- “This submarine brings new and lethal combat capabilities,” — Rear Adm. Guy Levy
- “When you take a 3,000-ton vessel with significant weaponry and extremely advanced intelligence-gathering systems , and manage to bring it all the way to an enemy coast, remain under his nose, collect intelligence, strike and leave without him even understanding you were there, you realize you are dealing with something completely different,” — Rear Adm. Guy Levy