Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel will enhance its naval capabilities by acquiring more submarines, ships, and other combat means, emphasizing that his country aims to be among the leading nations globally in naval warfare and undersea operations.

Netanyahu explained during a visit to the naval base in Ashdod, accompanied by Defense Minister Israel Katz, that security leaders informed him of the need for more naval means. He added that the sixth submarine has already arrived in Israel, while the security establishment is requesting more submarines, ships, and unspecified other means, according to the Israeli Prime Minister's Office website.

Maritime Space

Additionally, Netanyahu stated that the maritime domain has become an "international battlefield," referring to the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb.

The Israeli Prime Minister also added that what he described as "Israel's enemies" are seeking to threaten the Israeli maritime domain in the Mediterranean Sea, ports, and shipping routes. He affirmed that his country will work to protect its security from the sea, alongside enhancing its offensive and defensive capabilities in both maritime and undersea domains.

Visit to Ashdod

During the visit, Netanyahu and Katz received a briefing from the Chief of Naval Staff and the commander of the Ashdod base regarding the challenges facing the maritime arena, and the activities of forces in the southern region, including ongoing security units and naval landing units.

They also witnessed a demonstration of the combat means used by naval forces to deal with threats, whether in defense or attack missions, according to a statement from the Israeli Prime Minister's Office.

The Sixth Submarine

Netanyahu's statements came after the arrival of the submarine "Drakon" to Israel last September from Germany, becoming the sixth in the Israeli submarine fleet, as part of an ongoing program to develop naval capabilities. "Drakon" belongs to the latest generation of Israeli submarines, while Tel Aviv continues to work on developing additional "Dakar" class submarines, as part of a broader plan to modernize its naval fleet and enhance its long-range capabilities.

Moreover, "Drakon" is the first Israeli submarine of the "Dolphin 2" class built in Germany in over a decade, designed to provide advanced capabilities for extended operations underwater. It is approximately 74 meters long and is classified among the largest submarines that have entered service in the Israeli Navy.

Three new "Dakar" class submarines are scheduled to join the Israeli fleet in the future, as part of a defense agreement between Israel and Germany aimed at replacing older submarines and enhancing the capabilities of the naval forces.