The Israeli Navy receives the largest submarine in its history from Germany

The Israeli Navy received the largest submarine in its history, the INS Drakon, after the German-made vehicle completed a voyage that took several weeks from the coastal city of Kiel on the Baltic Sea to the port of Haifa overlooking the Mediterranean, according to an Israeli army spokeswoman.

The submarine was built by the German warship building company 'TKMS', and it is the sixth and final ship in the 'Dolphin' class. It is more than 70 meters long and is equipped with 10 torpedo launch tubes, making it the largest submarine in the Israeli Navy. The submarine is the first major weapons system to be delivered as part of a multi-year plan to modernize the Israeli Navy and enhance its capabilities.

Recently, the Chief of the General Staff of the Israeli Army, Eyal Zamir, said that the plan aims to enable the Navy to operate further away from Israel, for longer periods and with greater firepower. Zamir added that (INS Drakon) 'will symbolize, more than anything else, the transformation that our naval forces have witnessed over the past year.'

The submarine's ability to operate over long distances is of particular importance in light of the ongoing confrontation between Israel and Iran, and broader maritime tensions in the Middle East. Israel is also monitoring threats facing shipping traffic in the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz, linked to the war with Iran and the Iran-backed Houthi group, according to Israeli media.

Many of the Drakon's technical capabilities are classified. Its propulsion system allows it to remain underwater for long periods. The Ministry of Defense had indicated the existence of 'unique systems' and 'pioneering technologies'.

The voyage, which took just over three weeks from Kiel to Israel, was conducted under strict confidentiality procedures, and the submarine was largely submerged. One reason for this was concern that other countries might be able to collect intelligence about the submarine.