Engineering:INS Drakon

From HandWiki
Short description: Israeli Dolphin 2-class submarine
The INS Drakon at the TKMS shipyard in Kiel, Germany, in August 2023
History
Israel
NameINS Drakon
Ordered2012
BuilderThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, Kiel[1]
Cost€650m
Launched2017 (initial launch, prior to re-concepualization of the project)[2]
CommissionedExpected in 2026[3][4][needs update]
Home portTBD
StatusIn delivery as of August 2026[3][5]
Badge150px
__1B0X_5H1P__career
General characteristics
Class & typeDolphin II-class submarine
TypeFuel cell AIP / diesel-electric attack submarine
Displacement2,050 tons surfaced, 2,400 tons submerged[6][citation needed]
Length74 m (243 ft)[7] estimated [6]
Beam6.8 m (22 ft)
Draught6.2 m (20 ft)
PropulsionDiesel-electric, 3 diesels, 1 shaft, 4,243 shp (3,164 kW)
Speedexcess of 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph)[8]
Test depthAt least 350 m (1,150 ft)
ComplementUp to 45 personnel
Sensors &
processing systems		Atlas Elektronik ISUS 90-1 Tactical Control System (TCS) for multiple operations including sensor management, weapon control and navigation.[9]
Armament
  • 6 × 533 mm (21.0 in) torpedo tubes
  • 4 × 650 mm (26 in) diameter torpedo tubes
  • Potential VLS system for Popeye Turbo SLCM (unconfirmed)[9]
  • DM2A4 Seehake wire-guided torpedoes
  • Triton IDAS anti-helicopter missiles [citation needed]
__1B0X_5H1P__characteristics

INS Drakon, or Dragon, is an Israeli Dolphin II-class air-independent propulsion / diesel-electric attack submarine. The submarine was built by ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) at their Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW) subsidiary in Kiel, Germany. Drakon is the largest submarine produced in Germany since the Second World War.[1] Originally constructed to similar specifications as INS Tanin and INS Rahav, in 2018 the Israeli Navy reportedly decided to pursue a major strategic change to the project which added significant delays and costs.[10]

Although unconfirmed by either the German or Israeli government, sightings of the vessel on sea trials in early 2022 sparked speculation that the Drakon would be longer than previous boats of its class and may have new weapon capabilities, including a vertical launching system (VLS).[11]

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.[12] 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".[9]

The boat was originally planned to be named Dakar, after a vessel that mysteriously sank in 1968 with all of its crew on board.[13] [[File:INS Drakon (Israeli submarine of German modified Dolphin-AIP submarine class) pulling out of Kiel.jpg |thumb|left|INS Drakon on sea trials out of Kiel]]

The INS Drakon was christened in Kiel on 12 November 2024 and was reported on sea trials as of July 2025.[14] 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 Dakar class was also celebrated with this christening ceremony.[4] The submarine departed Germany in August 2026 on her delivery voyage to Israel.[3] Drakon arrived at the Haifa Naval Base the following month. The submarine had travelled about 3,792 nautical miles (7,000 km) over 23 days from Kiel. At 74 metres long and weighing about 2,600 tonnes, it is the largest and heaviest submarine to enter Israeli service. Drakon is equipped with air-independent propulsion (AIP), which allows it to remain submerged for longer periods without surfacing.[15][16]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Elmas, Dean Shmuel (5 August 2026). "Germany delivers Israel’s biggest-ever submarine". https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-germany-delivers-israels-biggest-ever-submarine-1001551470. 
  2. ↑ "Dolphin-II class submarine INS Drakon Joins Israeli Navy to Counter Regional Threats". 13 November 2024. https://www.armyrecognition.com/news/navy-news/2024/dolphin-ii-class-submarine-ins-drakon-joins-israeli-navy-to-counter-regional-threats. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Xavier, Will (2 September 2026). "Israeli Navy's newest submarine departs Germany on delivery voyage". https://www.bairdmaritime.com/security/naval/naval-submersibles/israeli-navys-newest-submarine-departs-germany-on-delivery-voyage. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Israel's Sixth Submarine Given Meaningful Name at Germany Ceremony". 2024-11-13. https://www.israeldefense.co.il/en/node/63594. 
  5. ↑ Nitz, Michael (29 July 2025). "Third Dolphin II SSK for Israeli Navy starts sea trials". https://www.janes.com/osint-insights/defence-news/sea/third-dolphin-ii-ssk-for-israeli-navy-starts-sea-trials. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Cavas, Christopher P. (15 August 2014). "Israel's Deadliest Submarines Are Nearly Ready". http://intercepts.defensenews.com/2014/08/israels-deadliest-submarines-are-nearly-ready. 
  7. ↑ "Israel's Newest Submarine, INS Drakon, Size Estimate". http://www.hisutton.com/Israel-INS-Drakon-Submarine-OSINT.html. 
  8. ↑ Israel's Deadliest Submarines Are Nearly Ready Intercepts, Christopher P. Cavas
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Smutny, Matus (3 August 2023). "Latest Israeli Submarine's Big Sail Seen In New Images". https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/new-israeli-submarines-big-sail-seen-in-images. 
  10. ↑ Elmas, Dean Shmuel (14 November 2024). "Israel names its biggest ever submarine". https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-israel-names-its-largest-ever-submarine-1001494029. 
  11. ↑ Sutton, H.I. (19 January 2022). "Israel's Submarine Secret: New Dolphin-IIs Could Have VLS". https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2022/01/israels-submarine-secret-new-dolphin-class-boat-could-have-vls/. 
  12. ↑ Sutton, H.I. (14 August 2023). "Israel Launches New Submarine, First In World With Modern Missiles In Sail". https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2023/08/israel-launches-new-submarine-first-in-world-with-modern-missiles-in-sail/. 
  13. ↑ "New Navy sub to be called 'Dragon' after original choice draws fire". https://www.timesofisrael.com/new-navy-sub-to-be-called-dragon-after-original-choice-draws-fire/. 
  14. ↑ Nitz, Michael (29 July 2025). "Third Dolphin II SSK for Israeli Navy starts sea trials". https://www.janes.com/osint-insights/defence-news/sea/third-dolphin-ii-ssk-for-israeli-navy-starts-sea-trials. 
  15. ↑ Fabian, Emanuel (27 September 2026). "Israel's newest, largest submarine arrives, deepening Navy's stealth capabilities". The Times of Israel. https://www.timesofisrael.com/israels-newest-largest-submarine-arrives-deepening-navys-stealth-capabilities/. 
  16. ↑ ""Greater stealth, at greater distances and depths" as Israel's new submarine arrives". CTech. 24 September 2026. https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/xbv5rw98h. 

Template:Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft Template:Dolphin class submarines Template:Modern German submarines



Retrieved from "https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?title=Engineering:INS_Drakon&oldid=4620715"