The most advanced weapon of the IDF: The Dragon submarine is on its way to Israel

Israel's sixth submarine, the INS Dragon, set sail this week from Germany to Israel after completing years of joint planning and construction. With its addition, the Navy will operate, for the first time, a fleet of six submarines simultaneously. The INS Dragon is considered the most advanced weapon in the IDF and brings new capabilities to the submarine fleet.

The INS Dragon is the third and final submarine in the Dolphin AIP series, following the INS Tanin and the INS Rahav, but it differs from its predecessors with significant design changes. It is larger and incorporates advanced technologies designed to expand the operational range, allow for longer mission durations, and increase the Navy's operational flexibility.

The Israeli flag was raised at the TKMS shipyard in Kiel, officially beginning its voyage to Israel. The departure was accompanied by a large-scale security operation led by the Ministry of Defense's Security Division in cooperation with German forces. Upon arrival in Israel, a state ceremony will be held at the Haifa base.

Exceptional security operation for the departure

According to reports, the INS Dragon left the port of Kiel shortly after 07:00, beginning a journey of nearly 3,300 nautical miles. The 74-meter, 2,400-ton submarine transited the Kiel Canal, which connects the Baltic and North Seas.

The departure involved a security operation of exceptional scale. The German newspaper Kieler Nachrichten reported that the Schleswig-Holstein state police deployed forces comparable to a head-of-state visit: ten police boats, land escorts for the IDF delegation, special vehicles, and a dedicated anti-drone unit.

Authorities raised the alert level prior to the departure due to security concerns. "The intensive preparation paid off, there were no incidents," said Dennis Schneider of the local police. By late afternoon, the convoy had reached the western end of the canal.

Six submarines operating simultaneously

The INS Dragon is considered the most advanced and complex weapon in the IDF, with an estimated cost of 550 million euros. Despite the early hour, shipyard workers gathered at the pier in Kiel to bid farewell. The Israeli crew waved back, and the commander responded with a siren and a water jet.

The delivery ceremony was attended by Navy Commander Major General Eyal Harel, Head of the Equipment Division Brigadier General Amir Chamni, Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Defense Zeev Landau, Israeli Ambassador to Germany Ron Prosor, the Commander of the German Navy, and representatives of the shipyard.

Navy Commander Major General Eyal Harel stated, "Long years of thought, planning, development, and innovation are turning into operational reality." He added that the INS Dragon and future Dakar-model submarines will form the core of the future fleet, providing "more advanced capabilities and significant operational power."

Deputy Director General Zeev Landau defined the INS Dragon as "the most advanced and complex weapon system in the IDF." Ambassador Ron Prosor noted that the delivery is "testimony to the depth of the strategic partnership between Jerusalem and Berlin," while TKMS CEO Oliver Burkhard remarked that the departure completes a complex, multi-year program between the company and Israel.