Germany’s TKMS delivers final HDW Dolphin class submarine to Israeli Navy
German shipbuilder TKMS has delivered “INS Drakon” – the third and final submarine of the HDW Dolphin class, to the Israeli Navy.
As part of their long-standing collaboration, TKMS and the Israeli Navy held a ceremony to bid farewell to “INS Drakon”, the shipbuilder announced on Sept. 01, 2026.
The submarine has successfully departed Kiel and is now on transit to Israel, it said.
INS Drakon, equipped with AIP propulsion, is “one of the most complex submarine classes” TKMS has ever built.
With its departure, the “Dolphin AIP” programme has been successfully completed, TKMS said.
In parallel with the completion of the “Dolphin AIP” programme, work is also progressing on the “Darkar” class – the next generation of submarines for the Israeli Navy.
Production of the first submarine in this class began several years ago.
This marks the continuation of the long-standing partnership, which is continually evolving in line with the changing requirements of the maritime environment, the German shipbuilder which has built several generations of naval vessels for Israeli Navy, including the Dolphin-class submarines and the Sa’ar 6-class corvettes, stated in the official media release.
