Germany’s TKMS has delivered the submarine “INS DRAKON” to the Israeli Navy, marking the completion of the Dolphin AIP submarine program. The third and final Dolphin-class submarine with air-independent propulsion has left Kiel and is now heading toward Israel.
The delivery continues a long-running naval partnership between Germany and Israel. TKMS is also building the next generation of Israeli submarines under the DAKAR-class program.
The INS DRAKON is the third and final submarine in the latest Dolphin-class group equipped with AIP propulsion. AIP, or air-independent propulsion, allows a submarine to operate underwater for longer periods without relying on atmospheric air for its main propulsion system.
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The submarine left TKMS’s shipyard in Kiel following a farewell ceremony on September 1, 2026. Its departure officially marks the completion of the Dolphin AIP program.
The submarine was built by Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS), one of Germany’s major naval shipbuilders. TKMS CEO Oliver Burkhard said the program required years of technical expertise, cooperation and careful project execution.
The company described the Israeli Navy as an important maritime partner. The delivery also highlights TKMS’s continued involvement in complex submarine programs.
Air-independent propulsion is designed to let submarines remain underwater longer than conventional diesel-electric systems that need regular access to atmospheric air for battery charging.
This can reduce the need for frequent surfacing or snorkeling. Longer submerged periods can be useful for naval missions that require a submarine to remain difficult to detect.
The Dolphin submarine program is part of a defense relationship between Germany and Israel that has developed over several decades. TKMS shipyards have built multiple generations of naval vessels for the Israeli Navy.
These include Dolphin-class submarines and Sa’ar 6-class corvettes. The partnership has continued as naval requirements and technology have evolved.
While the Dolphin AIP program is now complete, TKMS’s work for the Israeli Navy is continuing. The company is already building the new DAKAR-class submarines.
The DAKAR program includes three submarines and is intended to provide Israel with its next generation of underwater naval platforms. Construction of the first submarine began several years ago.
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The departure of INS DRAKON closes one major submarine program while another is already underway. The DAKAR class is expected to continue the submarine partnership between TKMS and Israel.
The development also reflects the growing importance of advanced underwater platforms in modern naval forces. For TKMS, completing the Dolphin AIP program while progressing with the DAKAR class demonstrates its continued role in Germany-Israel naval cooperation.
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