CTECH – The INS Drakon’s unusual design has prompted speculation about advanced launch systems and strategic capabilities.

(Thanks to Alain)

Marine Forum – A silent handover of a dragon: Almost unnoticed, TKMS has delivered the Israeli Navy’s most modern submarine. The “Drakon” completes the Dolphin II class and already hints at the Dakar class to come.

Jerusalem Post – Israel’s defense establishment is considering purchasing a maritime patrol and multirole aircraft designed primarily to detect submarines, according to an IDF source.

(Thanks to Alain)

Defense News – Elbit Systems detailed a new maritime concept centered on its Hermes 650 Spark unmanned aircraft, envisioning the conversion of commercial vessels into dedicated platforms for unmanned aviation. Each platform would carry between nine and 12 Hermes 650 Spark aircraft along with the deck infrastructure, control systems and mission support needed to operate them. Elbit described the approach as an alternative to acquiring a traditional aircraft carrier, aimed at giving naval forces extended maritime reach without the associated cost and complexity.

(Thanks to Alain)

US Naval War College Review – The character of naval warfare is changing profoundly, and traditional conceptions of victory may no longer apply. Naval warfare requires systematic reconceptualization to ensure that operational doctrine is applicable to the future environment and that navies are tasked with, train to, and are structured for missions they actually are able to accomplish. The Israeli navy’s early successes, more-recent challenges, and current contribution to the ongoing response to the 7 October Hamas attacks are illustrative.

BBC – Israeli navy ships have struck targets in the port city of Hudaydah in Houthi-controlled Yemen.

Globes – The UUVs are being used by the IDF to analyze maritime threats in Israel’s economic waters.

(Thanks to Alain)

Naval News – Israel’s Ministry of Defense today inked the contract to start the Reshef-class corvette program. Five vessels are being procured for the Israeli Navy. They will be built locally by Israel Shipyards but some hull modules will be fabricated overseas by a U.S. shipbuilder.

Zona Militar – In the context of the recent launch ceremony of the last Dolphin II-class submarine for the Israeli Navy, the German shipyard Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) has announced the beginning of construction on the first of the new Dakar-class submarines, which is planned as a replacement for the fleet of three Dolphin I-class submarines. This new type of submarine has been specially adapted to meet the requirements of the Israeli Navy, with a focus on special forces deployment and enhanced missile attack capabilities.

(Thanks to Alain)

Army Recognition – The Israeli Defense Forces has unveiled its sixth submarine, INS Drakon, a Dolphin AIP-class vessel designed as a strategic asset.

(Thanks to Alain)

Globes – The BlueWhale, developed by Israel Aerospace Industries’ Elta unit with German company Atlas Electronik, will be part of the effort to combat Iran’s expanding naval capabilities.

(Thanks to Alain)

Naval News – Israel’s latest submarine, INS Drakon, will be on sea trials following its construction in Kiel, Germany. This is a particularly vulnerable time when she may be subject to intelligence gathering efforts by other countries. Two Russian spy ships, the Sibiryakov and the Wassili Tatischtschew, have arrived on the scene.

The War Zone – Israel has used the ship-based version of its Iron Dome air defense system for the first time in combat.

The War Zone – One of Israel’s prized Sa’ar 6 class corvettes, the country’s most advanced warship, came very close to being struck by a long-range one-way attack drone that was launched from Iraq. The ship was sitting docked in Eilat, on the Gulf of Aqaba, when the drone came screaming in, impacting a large warehouse building on the pier beside it.

Breaking Defense – One of Israel’s new Sa’ar 6 corvettes has been deployed to the Red Sea, where it’s anchored off the Israeli port of Eilat.

War Zone – Facing barrages of aerial weaponry from Houthi rebels in Yemen, Israel is beefing up its air defenses in the Red Sea

The Times of Israel – The Israeli Navy on Tuesday received the first of two new landing craft from a shipyard in the United States.

(Thanks to Alain)

Naval News – The Israeli Navy is known for the secrecy surrounding its submarine force. 5 Dolphin-I/II class submarines are believed to carry nuclear-armed missiles. Now the latest boat, INS Drakon, has been quietly launched in Kiel, Germany. It appears to have new, larger, missiles.

Haaretz – Two of the five brigadier generals in the naval reserves who serve at operational headquarters and as deputies to the force’s commander have announced that they will no longer volunteer for reserve duty due to the government’s legal overhaul.

(Thanks to Alain)

War Zone – The much elongated sail of the INS Drakon is a change from earlier Israeli subs and may point to a vertical launch system.

Naval News – The Israeli Navy is looking to have the first of its new Reshef class corvettes in service at the start of 2027.

i24 – The powerful missile-equipped corvette-class has a mission to ensure the safety of maritime routes and protect Israeli gas platforms.

(Thanks to Alain)

Defense News – Israel Aerospace Industries has developed a new unmanned submarine, the BlueWhale, designed for covert intelligence-gathering operations.

Jerusalem Post – Commanders of Israel’s elite submarine unit speak to the “Post” about the challenges they have faced in their training.

(Thanks to Alain)

Breaking Defense – Israeli defense forces have been ordered on alert in the country’s north following the breakdown of negotiations between Israel and Lebanon regarding a gas rig, the latest surprising twist that brought the dispute over the huge gas reservoirs in the Mediterranean to a potential boiling point.