The Jerusalem Post boarded the INS Drakon off Haifa and found a submarine built for longer deployments and larger weapons loads. Cmdr. "A" said the vessel will help the IDF "get to any enemy, anywhere." Journalists observed the boat mostly submerged and viewed the surface through a periscope. Rear-Admiral Guy Levy said the Drakon's increased endurance could enable missions as far afield as Iran and Yemen.
INS Drakon: Israel's New Long-Endurance Submarine Could Extend Navy Reach To Iran, Yemen
A soldier stands aboard an INS submarine in images released on September 24, 2026. (photo credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON
The Jerusalem Post boarded Israel's newest submarine, the INS Drakon, during a sea demonstration off Haifa. The vessel's larger profile and upgraded systems are designed to extend patrol endurance and increase weapons capacity, potentially enabling operations at much greater distances.
A 20-minute fast-boat transfer from the Haifa naval base delivered a small group of journalists to the submarine, which remained mostly submerged as we approached. The first visible sign of the boat was the Drakon's green sail and the blue-and-white Israeli flag breaking the horizon.
The tour's most memorable moment came when I peered through one of the Drakon's two periscopes, gaining a sea-level view of the surrounding battlespace while remaining physically beneath the waves.
Soldiers stand aboard the INS Drakon in images released on September 24, 2026. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)
Capabilities: Cmdr. "A," the Drakon's commander, told The Jerusalem Post that the submarine's increased length creates space for both higher-quality and larger quantities of weapons. He said enhancements to the electrical and oxygen systems are intended to allow the boat to remain at sea for prolonged periods.
Cmdr. "A": "This platform will allow the IDF to get to any enemy, anywhere."
Rear-Admiral Guy Levy, the navy's deputy commander, emphasized that the Drakon's extended endurance and payload capacity could support missions in distant theaters, naming Iran and Yemen as possible areas where the submarine's reach could matter strategically.
Photographs of soldiers aboard the INS Drakon were released on Sept. 24, 2026, credited to the IDF Spokesperson's Unit. This article is a preview; the author's full report on the visit will be published at 8 p.m. Israel time.
Context: The Drakon represents a step in Israel's effort to bolster its undersea deterrent and reconnaissance capabilities, combining longer deployment times with increased armament and improved onboard life-support systems.
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