Israeli Prime Minister \u201cBenjamin Netanyahu\u201d announced that Israel would strengthen its naval capabilities by acquiring more submarines, ships, and other combat assets, stressing that his country seeks to become one of the world\u2019s leading countries in naval and undersea warfare.<\/p>\n
During a visit to the naval base in Ashdod yesterday, Sunday, accompanied by Defense Minister \u201cIsrael Katz,\u201d Netanyahu explained that the heads of the security agencies had informed him of the need for additional naval capabilities. He added that the sixth submarine had already arrived in Israel, while the security establishment was requesting more submarines, ships, and other unspecified capabilities, according to the Israeli Prime Minister\u2019s Office.<\/p>\n
Netanyahu said that the maritime domain had become an \u201cinternational battlefield,\u201d pointing to the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. He added that those he described as \u201cIsrael\u2019s enemies\u201d were seeking to threaten Israel\u2019s maritime domain in the Mediterranean, as well as its ports and maritime traffic, stressing that his country would work to protect its security from the sea while strengthening its offensive and defensive capabilities in the maritime and undersea domains.<\/p>\n
During the visit, Netanyahu and Katz received a briefing from the commander of the Navy and the commander of the Ashdod Base on 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 viewed a display of combat assets used by naval forces to address threats in defensive and offensive missions, according to a statement from the Israeli Prime Minister\u2019s Office.<\/p>\n
Netanyahu\u2019s statements came after the \u201cDrakon\u201d submarine arrived in Israel from Germany last September, becoming the sixth submarine in the Israeli submarine fleet, as part of an ongoing program to develop naval capabilities.<\/p>\n
The \u201cDrakon\u201d belongs to the latest generation of Israeli submarines, while Tel Aviv continues to develop additional \u201cDakar\u201d-class submarines as part of a plan to modernize its naval fleet and enhance its long-range capabilities.<\/p>\n
The \u201cDrakon\u201d is the first Israeli \u201cDolphin 2\u201d-class submarine to be built in Germany in more than a decade. It was designed to operate for extended periods underwater and provide advanced capabilities. It is approximately 74 meters long and is classified among the largest submarines to have entered service with the Israeli Navy.<\/p>\n
Three new \u201cDakar\u201d-class submarines are expected to join the Israeli fleet in the future under a defense agreement between Israel and Germany, with the aim of replacing older submarines and strengthening the capabilities of the Navy.<\/p>\n
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