This Tuesday, the German company Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) launched the third and final of the new Dolphin II-class submarines: the INS Drakon. The ceremony took place at the company’s shipyard in Kiel, Germany, where the launch of Israel’s new submarine program was also announced, attended by high-ranking Israeli and German officials.
TKMS CEO Oliver Burkhard highlighted the significance of this collaboration: “With Israel, we share a long-standing relationship based on trust and mutual respect… As a maritime power, we bring together our full spectrum of capabilities, from electronics to design and platform integration. The start of production for this submarine marks a new chapter in our collaboration, strengthening our partnership with Israel and further showcasing the world-class expertise of our teams.”
The Israeli Navy currently operates three Dolphin I submarines, consisting of the INS Dolphin, INS Leviatan, and INS Tekumah. The Dolphin II class comprises an identical number of submarines, with the INS Tanin and INS Rahav already delivered, and now the INS Drakon completing the class. All units were manufactured by TKMS through its subsidiary, Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft AG (HDW).
The Dolphin II class was designed with a focus on surveillance and special forces deployment missions, with its main operational environment in the Mediterranean Sea. Compared to its predecessors, the Dolphin II submarines are about 500 tons heavier, incorporating numerous upgrades. Notably, they are equipped with a new Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) system that enhances speed, range, and stealth capabilities.
In terms of armament, the Dolphin II submarines are outfitted with four 650-mm torpedo tubes and six 533-mm tubes, capable of deploying wire-guided heavy torpedoes, special operations vehicles, and Popeye Turbo cruise missiles (SLCMs). These missiles form a cornerstone of Israel’s nuclear deterrent network, as they can carry nuclear warheads over an estimated range of 1,500 kilometers.
Images used for illustrative purposes.
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