The Israeli Navy has taken delivery of the INS Drakon, the most advanced and costly submarine ever transferred to Israel's fleet. Built at ThyssenKrupp shipyards in Germany, the vessel arrived in late July, earlier than the originally planned 2025 delivery date.
Measuring over 70 meters in length and weighing more than 2,000 tons, the Drakon is the sixth submarine in Israel's Dolphin-class fleet and the third of the upgraded Dolphin II variant. The submarine carries an estimated price tag of approximately $634 million.
According to defense analysts, the vessel is expected to significantly strengthen Israel's intelligence-gathering and deterrence capabilities, particularly the ability to maintain a strategic response option even in the event of severe damage to Israel's mainland military infrastructure.
