The naming ceremony for the IDF's sixth submarine was held at the "Kiel" shipyard in Germany,

 Joint statement by the IDF Spokesperson and the Israel Ministry of Defense Spokesperson:

Amid the Ongoing War, the IDF Reveals Its Sixth Submarine—INS “Drakon”, Which Will Serve as a Strategic Combat Asset Across the Various Operational Arenas

Today (Tuesday), the naming ceremony for the IDF's sixth submarine was held at the "Kiel" shipyard in Germany, led by the Commander in Chief of the Israeli Navy, VADM David Saar Salama, the Israel Ministry of Defense Deputy Director General and Head of the Defence Procurement Directorate (DPD), Zeev Landau, and the Ambassador of Israel to Germany, Mr. Ron Prosor, alongside representatives from the Israel Ministry of Defense and the Israel Navy, who are accompanying the project with representatives from the shipyard in Germany.

Alongside the naming ceremony for the submarine, the commencement of the construction process for the IDF's future submarines, of the "Dakar" class, was marked. These submarines are scheduled for delivery at the beginning of the next decade.

As part of the ceremony, the submarine was officially named INS (Israeli Navy Ship) "Drakon". The name "Drakon" (Dragon)—a mythical sea creature symbolizing strength, uniqueness, and power—was chosen because it contains the Hebrew letters ד׳, ק׳, ר׳ (Dakar), thus commemorating the legacy of the submarine INS Dakar and its crew.

The submarine is scheduled to be delivered to the IDF 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 IDF's capabilities across various arenas.

From the remarks of the Commander in Chief of the Israeli Navy, VADM David Saar Salama: “INS Drakon will serve as a cornerstone in ensuring the security of the State of Israel. Seen and unseen, it will dwell in distant and hidden realms for extended periods. This submarine is an additional force multiplier for the capabilities and strength of the Israeli Navy, the IDF, and the State of Israel—facing complex challenges at the most strategic and crucial level for Israel.
At this time, significant transformations are taking place in the submarine flotilla. Operational methods are improving, the range of operational capabilities is being enhanced and expanded, and integration with security bodies is accelerating. All of these place the submarine flotilla at the forefront of the campaign for Israel's security, as the extended arm of the IDF.
With the addition of INS Drakon to the depths of our operations, our extended arm grows significantly in length and strength.”

From the remarks of the Israel Ministry of Defense Deputy Director General and Head of the Defence Procurement Directorate (DPD), Zeev Landau: “Today we are marking not only the launch of the Drakon submarine but also the close security ties between Israel and Germany, a relationship founded on shared values and a mutual aspiration for a safer future. Together, we have created a vessel that will strengthen the Israeli Navy and bring powerful and essential capabilities for the defense of the State of Israel. On behalf of the Israel Ministry of Defense, I congratulate the Israeli Navy, which today marks a new chapter in force design, and extend my gratitude to our partners in the German Ministry of Defense and TKMS. We are successfully completing a major phase in the development and production project and are moving forward to the next stages.”

From the remarks of the Ambassador of Israel to Germany, Ron Prosor: “The launch of the submarine is a model of the synergy between security and diplomacy. The geo-strategic situation requires moral clarity—as well as a long-term strategy. The launch of the submarine is another cornerstone in the strategic relationship between Israel and Germany, which face similar challenges and share common opportunities.”