Tel Aviv: The naming ceremony for the Israeli Navy’s sixth submarine was held at the “Kiel” shipyard in Germany on November 12.
Alongside the naming ceremony for the submarine, the commencement of the construction process for the future submarines, of the “Dakar” class, was marked. These submarines are scheduled for delivery at the beginning of the next decade.
The submarine was officially named INS (Israeli Navy Ship) “Drakon”.
The submarine is scheduled to be delivered to the Israel in 2025, after which it will sail to its home port and join its sister vessels as an operational submarine in the Israeli Navy.
The INS “Drakon” submarine is of the “Dolphin AIP” class and equipped with unique systems, including groundbreaking technologies that expand the range of the Israeli Navy’s capabilities across various arenas.
The Commander in Chief of the Israeli Navy, VADM David Saar Salama said that the INS Drakon will serve as a cornerstone in ensuring the security of Israel.
The new German built Dolphin class submarines of the Israeli Navy are being equipped after arriving to Israel with locally developed systems that make them more capable against current and future threats.
The three advanced Dolphin AIP class submarines were built by German company Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW). The advanced Dolphin 2 class vessels are equipped with air-independent propulsion (AIP) system. The AIP enables the submarines total freedom from external air. That means that they can stay submerged for a longer time.
According to foreign media at least one Israeli submarine is on station in the Persian Gulf.
The new submarines are 12 metres longer and with 500 tons more displacement than the Dolphin 1 submarines. The submarines sonar and defence systems are advanced and improved relative to their predecessors.
According to German magazine Der Spiegel, the Dolphin 2 subs can stay underwater for up to eighteen days. The Dolphin 2 weighs approximately 20 percent more than the older type and have dedicated diver-lockout chambers. The new class submarines are 226 feet long and can reach a speed of 25 Kts while submerged. They are capable of operating in depth of 1150 feet. The crew is 35 and another 15 “experts” can be on board.
The new submarines have six 21″ torpedo tubes and four 26″ torpedo tubes. The new submarines are being equipped with a very advanced sonar systems developed by DSIT, a subsidiary of Rafael. The technical details of this sonar are classified but a source said that it is capable of detecting threats “of types and in ranges” that were until now unachievable.
Sources said that the advanced sonar is based on the advanced technology used by DSIT in its Swordfish passive or passive and active low frequency towed array sonar system.
According to the company, it is capable of underwater search, detection tracking and classification in passive, active and parallel modes. The company explains that each sonar system, includes machine learning technologies for automation of algorithms and reduction of operator workload.
-The writer is an Israel-based freelance journalist. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
