Israel has taken delivery of the INS Drakon, its most advanced and expensive submarine, built in Germany at a cost of $634 million (£497 million). The handover expands Israel's naval fleet and is expected to significantly strengthen its underwater strike and reconnaissance capabilities at a time of heightened regional tensions, particularly with Iran.

The INS Drakon belongs to the Dolphin AIP (air-independent propulsion) class and was formally named at a ceremony in Kiel, Germany, in 2024, having originally been scheduled for delivery in 2025. The development, reported by The Algemeiner, comes amid a broader escalation of hostilities and rhetoric between Israel and Iran, with the new vessel seen as bolstering Israel's deterrence posture in the region.