Germany delivers largest submarine built since World War II to Israeli Navy

The Israeli Navy this week received the IMS Drakon, the sixth Dolphin-2 class submarine built for Israel by Germany's ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS).

The vessel is the largest submarine built in Germany since the Second World War and, at a cost of €550 million ($634 million), is also the most expensive submarine Israel has ever purchased.

The delivery marks another milestone in Israel's long-running naval modernization program and underscores Germany's decades-long role as Israel's primary submarine supplier.

With three additional Dolphin-2 submarines already under construction and an even more advanced Dakar-class fleet scheduled to begin arriving later this decade, Israel continues to expand one of the Middle East's most capable submarine forces.

Three more Dolphin-2 class submarines are in the TKMS pipeline and scheduled to be delivered to Israel in the coming years. According to the German defense publication Marine Forum, the Drakon's delivery was delayed by nearly a year after Israeli experts sought to incorporate newly developed technical systems during construction.

This reflects a growing challenge for advanced militaries, where technological innovation often outpaces the lengthy process of designing and building major weapons platforms.

German shipyards have built submarines for the Israeli Navy since 1999, when the first three Dolphin-class submarines were constructed by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft in Kiel.

Prior to that, Israel operated second-hand submarines acquired from the British Navy and purchased three Gal-class submarines from British engineering firm Vickers, which were based on a German design.

The German government has heavily subsidized Israel's submarine fleet for decades as part of Holocaust reparations agreements negotiated between the two countries in the 1950s.

In addition to the Dolphin-class submarines, TKMS also built four Sa'ar 6-class frigates for the Israeli Navy, with the German government covering one-third of the construction costs.

In recent years, Israel's domestic shipbuilding industry has also made significant advances. In December 2024, the Ministry of Defense ordered five advanced Reshef-class assault ships, worth about $840 million, from Israel Shipyards.

For now, however, there are no plans for Israel Shipyards to enter the submarine business. Building submarines is an extraordinarily complex undertaking, requiring roughly three years of planning and seven years of construction for each vessel, along with costly specialized equipment.

Such an investment is difficult to justify given Israel's relatively small submarine fleet.

Beginning in 2031, TKMS is scheduled to deliver the new Dakar-class submarines to replace Israel's aging Dolphin-1 class boats, which are now approaching 30 years of service. According to international media reports, the new submarines will exceed 70 meters in length and displace more than 2,000 tons, making them the most powerful submarines in the region.

They will feature an air-independent propulsion system, allowing them to remain submerged for longer periods, along with numerous advanced capabilities not found on earlier classes.

Israel's 2022 contract with Germany for the Dakar-class fleet was reportedly worth €3 billion, with the German government subsidizing 20% of the cost.

In recent years, Germany has also become one of the Israeli defense industry's largest customers, accounting for 21% of Israeli defense exports, second only to India, which accounts for 29%.