As a mobile, hidden asset, it ensures Israel retains a credible second‑strike option even if air bases or missile batteries were targeted.

By Hezy Laing

Somewhere beneath the sea, hundreds or even thousands of kilometers from Israel, the INS Drakon can disappear for weeks at a time.

Israel’s enemies won’t know where it is, what it’s carrying or what it can strike. And that uncertainty is exactly the point.

Israel’s newest long‑range submarine arrived in Haifa only weeks ago, but its arrival could change what Israel is capable of doing far from home.

Built by ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems in Kiel and delivered in mid‑2026, the Drakon is the most advanced—and most expensive—submarine Israel has ever purchased, with estimates topping €1 billion.

What makes the Drakon different is not just its size, but what that size allows. The submarine is believed to be larger than the Dolphin‑II class, with an extended sail and more internal space for weapons, sensors and specialized missions.

One feature has attracted particular attention: the unusually big sail. Analysts think it may contain vertical launch tubes, which could let the submarine fire long‑range precision weapons while staying hidden beneath the sea.

Israel doesn’t publish full specifications, but open‑source assessments point to upgraded air‑independent propulsion, new electronic‑warfare systems and next‑generation sensors developed with Rafael and Elbit.

In practical terms, that means the Drakon can stay underwater for weeks, operate secretly thousands of kilometers from Israel and carry out missions that were previously out of reach.

Why does that matter? Because in a region where Iran is expanding missile bases in Syria, Iraq and Yemen—and pushing naval assets into the Red Sea and Persian Gulf—Israel needs platforms that can survive a first strike and still hit back.

A submarine that can vanish into the ocean and quietly position itself near hostile territory gives Israel a hidden retaliatory option even if air bases or missile batteries were attacked.

For Israel’s enemies, that creates a serious problem: they can never be sure where the Drakon is or what it can strike.

The submarine’s value isn’t limited to deterrence. Its ability to slip into distant waters lets Israel monitor maritime chokepoints, track hostile ships and gather intelligence on missile launches or drone activity.

It can support special‑operations missions and conduct deep surveillance in places where Israel cannot simply send aircraft or warships.

For Israel’s partners in Europe and the Mediterranean, the Drakon adds a powerful, quiet asset to joint maritime security efforts. It strengthens Israel’s role as a stabilizing force at sea, especially in regions where tensions can escalate quickly.

In the end, the Drakon’s greatest weapon may be uncertainty. Israel’s adversaries won’t know exactly where it is, what it’s carrying or when it might appear. And that’s precisely the point.