Israel’s sixth submarine is coming home after a highly secretive journey

Israel’s newest submarine is expected to arrive at its home port in Haifa this week after a highly secretive voyage from Germany, adding a new and largely opaque element to the Israeli Navy’s capabilities. The INS Drakon (Dragon) left the German shipyard three weeks ago and is expected to reach Israel this week. Its journey to the Mediterranean was conducted under heavy security, with the submarine operating at depth and its movements kept secret. The precautions reflect the strategic sensitivity surrounding the vessel. During its passage through the Mediterranean, Israel was aware that countries including Turkey, Russia and China could seek to intercept the submarine or collect intelligence about it. The arrival marks the addition of Israel’s sixth submarine and the third vessel in the Dolphin AIP series.