INS Drakon

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INS Drakon, or Dragon, is an Israeli Dolphin 2-class submarine. The submarine was built in Kiel, Germany, and was reported to be on initial sea trials in early 2022. Although unconfirmed by either the German or Israeli government, rumor has it that the Drakon will be longer than previous boats of its class and may have new weapon capabilities, including a vertical launching system (VLS). Illustrations released by ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS), the prime contractor, show an enlarged sail and distinctly changed hullform. TKMS went on to describe the Drakon as "a completely new design, which is to be specifically engineered to fulfill the operational requirements of the Israeli Navy." In 2018 the Israeli Navy reportedly decided to pursue a major strategic change to the project which added significant delays and costs. The boat was reported to have been taken out of the water but re-launched again in August 2023. With the re-launch, photographs confirm a much larger sail which may accommodate its vertical launch missile silos, if these are indeed fit to the vessel. According to analysis conducted by Matus Smutny, the sail "could also contain a special release compartment for unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs), aerial drones, and/or other special operations and intelligence-gathering equipment. The revised sail could also be related to some kind of proof-of-concept for technology to be used in the upcoming Dakar class". The boat was originally planned to be named Dakar, after a vessel that mysteriously sank in 1968 with all of its crew on board. The INS Drakon was christened in Kiel on 12 November 2024 and was reported on sea trials as of July 2025. She had been scheduled to be delivered in the course of 2025 containing new technical systems. In addition to the christening, the start of construction of the future...