In the midst of the conflict, the Israeli army unveiled its sixth submarine, the INS “Dragon”, on Tuesday during a ceremony at the Kiel shipyards in Germany. The event took place in the presence of the Commander of the Israeli Navy, Admiral David Saar Salama, and senior Israeli and German officials.
The name “Dragon”, a mythological sea creature symbolizing power and singularity, was chosen because it contains the three letters D, K, R, thus recalling the heritage of the INS Dakar submarine and its crew.
This new submarine, of the “Dolphin AIP” class, is expected to be delivered to the IDF in 2025. It is equipped with unique systems and cutting-edge technologies that will expand the operational capabilities of the Israeli army in different theaters of operations.
Admiral Salama underlined the strategic importance of this new building: “The INS Dragon will constitute a cornerstone in guaranteeing Israel’s security. Visible and invisible at the same time, it will operate in distant and unknown areas for long periods.” The ceremony also marked the start of construction of the future “Dakar” class submarines, scheduled for delivery early in the next decade. Zeev Landau, director of procurement at the Defense Ministry, highlighted the close ties between Israel and Germany, while Israel’s Ambassador to Germany, Ron Prosor, called the launch “a model of security integration and diplomacy” in a geostrategic context requiring “moral clarity and long-term strategy”.
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