Israel's navy is receiving its sixth submarine Thursday, the INS Drakon, arriving after a 3,792-mile voyage from the por...

Israel's navy is receiving its sixth submarine Thursday, the INS Drakon, arriving after a 3,792-mile voyage from the port of Kiel, Germany, where it departed on September 1. The trip took roughly 25 days, and the arrival had already been delayed by months after Norway and Denmark refused to allow the submarine to pass through their territorial waters, according to Israeli Channel 13. The Drakon is equipped with an air-independent propulsion system, known as AIP, which allows it to remain submerged significantly longer than older submarine models. Three additional Dakar-class submarines are expected to join the Israeli fleet in the coming years, alongside five Reshef-class missile boats currently under construction, which use artificial intelligence and are set to enter service by late 2028. Israeli naval officials say the submarine arrives at a critical moment. The war with Iran and the ongoing crisis at the Strait of Hormuz have made maritime security a top priority for a country that moves 98% of its foreign trade by sea. The Houthi blockade of the Bab al-Mandeb strait is seen as a direct threat to the port of Eilat, which has already taken a serious economic hit during the war. Israel's navy is watching the regional arms buildup closely, with Turkey singled out as the primary concern. Turkey currently operates 14 submarines and is pushing to expand its fleet to 18, driven by its "Blue Homeland" doctrine, which seeks to extend Turkish maritime dominance across the Eastern Mediterranean. Egypt fields eight submarines, while Greece operates nine. To counter these growing threats, Israel is also looking to deepen cooperation with Greece and Cyprus. The Chief of the General Staff has described the navy as a "strategic arm" tasked with projecting firepower and intelligence over long distances, including operations along hostile coastlines in the Red Sea and off Yemen, where Israeli naval forces have been active in recent months. #Israel #EasternMediterranean #NavalPower