Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) has delivered the INS Drakon to the Israeli Navy, marking the completion of Israel’s Dolphin-class submarine fleet equipped with air-independent propulsion (AIP).
The handover ceremony took place at the TKMS shipyard in Kiel, Germany, after which the vessel began its journey to Israel.
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The INS Drakon is the third and final submarine in the Dolphin II-class AIP series ordered by Israel’s Ministry of Defence.
In a statement on Facebook, the Israel Ministry of Defence stated that submarine features a range of new technologies designed to increase the Israeli Navy’s operational flexibility in the coming years.
This delivery represents the culmination of the “Dolphin AIP” programme, a collaborative project between Germany and Israel that spanned over a decade.
A formal ceremony is planned at Haifa Naval Base to welcome the new submarine once it arrives in Israel.
TKMS CEO Oliver Burkhard said: “With the departure of the ‘INS DRAKON,’ we are successfully concluding a challenging program that was characterized over many years by trust, technological expertise, and shared responsibility.
“Israel is an important partner for us in the maritime sector. With the ‘DAKAR’ class, we are continuing our collaboration and demonstrating that TKMS not only develops complex naval programs but also reliably brings them to fruition.”
Development of the Dakar-class submarines, the next generation for the Israeli Navy, is underway alongside the completion of the Dolphin AIP programme.
Production on the first Dakar-class submarine began several years ago, continuing the partnership between TKMS and Israel and reflecting changes in maritime requirements.
The relationship between TKMS and the Israeli Navy extends over decades and forms a significant element of defence cooperation between Germany and Israel.
The company’s shipyards have built several generations of vessels for the Israeli Navy, including both Dolphin-class submarines and Sa’ar 6-class corvettes.
Israeli Navy commander in chief VADM Eyal Harel said: “INS Drakon, together with the three Dakar-class submarines that will join the Israeli Navy, will form a major part of the future of the Submarine Flotilla, the Israeli Navy, and the IDF.
“They will bring more advanced capabilities, greater operational range, longer endurance on missions, and significant operational power.”
