Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced plans to further strengthen Israel’s naval capabilities through the acquisition of additional submarines, warships and other military equipment.
Netanyahu said Israel aims to become one of the world’s leading powers in both maritime and undersea warfare.
Speaking during a visit to the Israeli Navy base in Ashdod on Sunday alongside Defence Minister Israel Katz, Netanyahu said security officials had informed him of the need for additional naval equipment.
According to a statement issued by the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office, Netanyahu said Israel’s sixth submarine had already arrived, while security officials were requesting additional submarines, naval vessels and other capabilities.
Maritime domain becoming an international battlefield
Netanyahu described the maritime domain as an “international battlefield”, citing strategic waterways including the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
He said what he described as Israel’s enemies were seeking to threaten Israeli maritime territory in the Mediterranean, as well as the country’s ports and maritime traffic.
Netanyahu said Israel would continue working to protect its security from the sea while developing its defensive and retaliatory capabilities in both maritime and undersea domains.
Briefing on naval operations
During the Ashdod visit, Netanyahu and Katz received briefings from senior naval commanders on challenges facing Israel along its maritime front and military activities in the southern region.
The briefing included information on routine security units and amphibious forces operating in the area.
The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said Netanyahu and Katz also viewed demonstrations of naval systems and equipment used by Israeli forces in defensive and retaliatory missions.
Israel expands submarine fleet
Netanyahu’s announcement follows the arrival of the INS Drakon submarine from Germany in September.
The submarine became the sixth vessel in Israel’s submarine fleet and is part of the country’s ongoing programme to expand and modernise its naval capabilities.
The Drakon belongs to a newer generation of Israeli submarines and is being incorporated into the Israeli Navy as part of a broader effort to upgrade the fleet and enhance its long-range capabilities.
The submarine was built in Germany and is the first Israeli submarine of its type produced there in more than a decade. It is approximately 74 metres long and is among the largest submarines to enter service with the Israeli Navy.
Three more Dakar-class submarines planned
Israel and Germany are also working under a defence agreement that will provide Israel with three additional Dakar-class submarines in the coming years.
The new submarines are intended to replace older vessels and further strengthen the Israeli Navy’s capabilities.
The expansion reflects Israel’s growing focus on maritime and undersea warfare as regional security concerns increasingly extend beyond land and air operations to strategically important waterways and maritime trade routes.
