INS Drakon submarine, the advanced Dolphin II-class submarine of the Israeli Navy, designed to significantly enhance the underwater capabilities of the country, has been launched, completing the Navy's HDW Class Dolphin AIP (air-independent propulsion) submarine order. This is the sixth submarine of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), and is likely to join the fleet by 2025.
The naming ceremony of the submarine took place at Kiel shipyard in Germany in the presence of the Israeli Navy Commander in Chief and top officials of Israel's ministry of defense.
This highly advanced, next-generation submarine is larger than its Dolphin-class predecessors and is expected to have a submerged displacement capacity of over 2,000 tons. There are speculations that this submarine will be capable of carrying nuclear-tipped cruise missiles.
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The combination of diesel-electric mechanisms and AIP system enables the submarines to remain submerged for a long period of time without surfacing, making it extremely tough to detect. The advanced stealth features and extended operational range of the submarine make it a critical asset for Israel's defense posture, enhancing its ability for covert operations and precision strikes deep within enemy territory.
INS Drakon submarine has been described as a “strategic combat asset...equipped with unique systems, including ground-breaking technologies that expand the range of the IDF's capabilities across various arenas”.
INS Drakon is an improved version of Israel’s Dolphin II and does have an unusually large sail that allegedly has a Vertical Launch System (VLS) for a type of ballistic missiles.
The new submarine has enlarged torpedo tubes at the front, allowing them to launch cruise missiles.
According to media reports, Dolphin-class submarines of Israel are believed to have the ability to launch around 80 nuclear-tipped cruise missiles when operating together.
Commander in Chief of the Israeli Navy, VADM David Saar Salama, said the submarine will serve as a cornerstone in ensuring the security of Israel.
“With Israel, we share a long-standing partnership built on trust and mutual respect. The launching of ‘INS DRAKON’ and the start of production for the first Class ‘DAKAR’ submarine are major milestones that underscore our commitment to delivering submarines that set new technical standards globally,” Oliver Burkhard, CEO of thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, which is producing the submarine, said.
