Israel's Ministry of Defense announced Wednesday that the INS Drakon, the third and final submarine in the Dolphin AIP class, is en route from Germany to Israel. The vessel incorporates advanced technologies that will enhance the Israel Navy's operational flexibility for years to come, according to the ministry.
The Israel Ministry of Defense officially confirmed Wednesday that the INS Drakon, the third and final submarine in the Dolphin AIP class, is en route from Germany to Israel. The announcement, reported via Israel Hayom journalist Ariel Kahana, states the vessel incorporates advanced technologies that will enhance the Israel Navy’s operational flexibility. The confirmation follows a rapid sequence of reports from Tuesday that first identified the submarine’s departure.
The Zioneer first reported Tuesday at 19:06 Jerusalem that the INS Drakon had departed Germany after a handover ceremony attended by senior Israeli and German defense officials. Within the same hour, the IDF confirmed it as the third and final Dolphin-class AIP submarine, the Defense Ministry confirmed its departure and advanced technology integration, and the IDF officially unveiled it as a strategic combat asset. The Zioneer later that evening reported the vessel had begun its voyage under extraordinary security, and that Israel had taken formal possession. By version 8 of the thread, the submarine was identified as the third Dolphin-AIP vessel. What began as a single channel report evolved within hours to multiple official confirmations at the highest level.
As The Zioneer has documented, the INS Drakon is the sixth submarine to join the Israel Navy and the third and final vessel in the advanced Dolphin-2 (AIP) class. Built in Germany, it features a unique structural design optimized for advanced missile systems and long-range endurance, providing Israel with significant strategic depth. The Ministry has previously highlighted that the vessel’s cutting-edge technologies will keep the Israel Navy at the forefront of global military capabilities for decades.
The exact arrival timeline and the vessel’s most powerful capabilities remain classified. The Ministry has stated that a state ceremony will be held at the Haifa naval base upon its arrival, but no date has been announced.
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