The German-made INS Drakon submarine, which will be officially accepted in Israel at a ceremony on Thursday, has stronger weapons and longer underwater capabilities than prior Israeli submarines, according to the IDF.
The Drakon submarine is the sixth submarine to join the Israeli Navy’s fleet in recent years and the third of the Dolphin class – specifically, the Dolphin II variant equipped with an Air-Independent Propulsion system.
This AIP system allows the submarine to generate energy and recharge its batteries while submerged for extended periods, with no need to surface or access external air.
Earlier submarines could only remain submerged for a couple of days, eventually a couple of weeks, but the Dolphin-II class Drakon can do so for much longer.
Part of the Drakon’s system utilizes hydrogen and oxygen to generate energy, which enables the submarine to extend the duration of its covert underwater operations and maintain operational capability over time.
The submarine measures over 70 meters in length, making it approximately 30% larger than the original Dolphin-class submarines. The section visible above the water accounts for less than one-fifth of its total size.
While neither Israel nor the German company ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) has revealed why the Drakon has an expanded design or confirmed what new systems it has installed, experts have speculated that the expanded design could include new capabilities – such as possible vertical launching systems (VLS).
These systems, if present, could substantially increase the submarine’s potential uses by enabling it to deploy additional weapons, cruise missiles, unmanned underwater systems (UUVs), intelligence equipment, or special operations capabilities.
Some experts have speculated that the expansion could also relate to launch cells, but the precise internal configuration remains unknown.
What has been published is that the Drakon has 10 torpedo tubes located in the bow: six standard 533 mm tubes and four oversized 650 mm tubes. The wider tubes can launch heavier weapons, specialized equipment, and even UUVs.
According to reports, the submarines are able to deliver nuclear weapons. Multiple foreign publications have noted that Israeli submarines are part of a triad of nuclear deterrence that Israel possesses, along with land-based and air-based weapons.
During Defense Ministry Director-General Amir Baram and other senior defense officials’ stay in Germany in December 2025, they made new progress regarding the ongoing submarine deals, which have unique offensive and defensive capabilities, The Jerusalem Post reported at the time.
Though Israel has never publicly admitted to possessing nuclear weapons, former prime ministers and others, notably Ehud Olmert, have at times slipped up and alluded to such a weapons program.
The arrival of the Drakon completes the second generation of Israeli Navy submarines built in Germany, which Israel has said symbolizes the long-standing defense partnership between the two countries.
The voyage from Germany to Israel covers a distance of approximately 4,000 nautical miles (8,000 kilometers) and took the Drakon just over three weeks, but it can also take up to a month.
Possible delays due to various diplomatic maritime issues Israel has encountered
There may have been delays due to various diplomatic maritime problems that Israel has encountered, which have been publicly reported since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas War.
Departing from the TKMS shipyard in Kiel, Germany, the Drakon transited across part of the Atlantic Ocean near Western Europe and passed through the Strait of Gibraltar to the Mediterranean Sea.
The vessel’s arrival in Israel was the culmination of over 12 years of development, including months of trials and preparations.
Close cooperation was maintained throughout the project among the Israeli Navy, the German Navy, and the German Defense Ministry, as well as the German professionals involved in the submarine’s construction.
Israeli direct involvement in joint naval projects with Germany continues
Israeli involvement in the project has spanned approximately 20 years, managed by an Israeli project directorate operating in Germany that oversaw the design, construction, and testing phases.
Officers and engineers from the Israeli Navy served in the project directorate, relocating to Germany with their families for periods of several years. Submarine squadron crews joined the project at a later stage, participating in drills at sea, testing, and the process of judging the ship’s readiness and delivering it to the Israeli Navy.
Israeli direct involvement in joint naval projects with Germany continues, looking ahead to the next generation of submarines – the Dakar-class – which are currently under construction and have an expected delivery start date in 2031.
The Drakon incorporates advanced technological capabilities that expand the Israeli Navy’s operational toolkit, enabling it to operate across a diverse range of arenas and missions.
Beyond the technology, the submarine squadron relies on its human capital – young crews demonstrating high levels of professionalism, responsibility, composure, and operational sharpness.
Submariners operate complex combat systems over extended periods in distant maritime theaters, working in challenging conditions of secrecy and isolation from the outside world.