⚓ Operational preparations and new capabilities: The Navy is preparing INS Drakon, Israel’s sixth submarine and the final vessel in the Dolphin family, for operational service within weeks of its arrival at Haifa Naval Base, according to an IDF report published September 24. Lt. Col. A., head of the Navy’s Submarine Branch, said: “That means we have set a target: within a few short weeks, this submarine will become part of the operational fleet.”
According to the IDF, Drakon is approximately 30% larger than the other Dolphin submarines and provides new capabilities among the world’s most advanced. Its air-independent propulsion allows it to remain submerged for longer periods without relying on outside air.
Navy personnel closely oversaw construction in Germany. Preparations in Haifa included a dedicated crew, special berthing facilities, infrastructure adapted to the submarine’s unique dimensions and systems, and arrangements to operate and maintain its new technology. Integration into Flotilla 7 includes personnel changes, crew formation and preparation for operations.
⚓ Voyage and remembrance of INS Dakar: Drakon spent several weeks traveling submerged from Germany to Israel with the crew members who will continue serving aboard it. During the voyage, it passed directly over the site where INS Dakar sank, and the crew held a ceremony commemorating the 69 sailors who perished.
“Everything we do is also in memory of the fallen, with them always before us,” Lt. Col. A. said, noting that the connection is reflected even in the letters of Drakon’s name.
🛡️ Next-generation Dakar project: Drakon’s arrival marks the closing chapter of a project rooted in Israeli-German cooperation that began in the late 1980s and developed through successive generations of Dolphin submarines.
After almost 40 years of work on that program, the Navy is moving toward the next generation: the Dakar project, which the IDF said is currently being planned in Germany and is expected to serve the submarine force for decades to come.
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