Germany enhances naval surveillance with Israeli-built underwater drone

The German Navy has formally taken delivery of the Israeli-built BlueWhale underwater drone, designed for reconnaissance missions and identifying “hybrid threats at sea”.

The unmanned system was created by Israel Aerospace Industries in partnership with ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS), as defence media outlets report.

The handover ceremony took place at the Eckernförde Naval Base on the Baltic coast.

Prior to delivery, the BlueWhale completed two weeks of trials in November 2024 in the same maritime area. During testing, its underwater intelligence collection and target acquisition capabilities were evaluated, along with its suitability for covert surface reconnaissance operations.

As an unmanned system, BlueWhale is designed to deliver extended operational endurance, lower running costs, and minimized risk to personnel compared with traditional crewed submarines.

Functioning as an extended sensor platform for manned naval vessels, it can move closer to potential dangers while gathering intelligence both above and below the waterline using sophisticated sonar systems and satellite-connected sensors.

The fully autonomous large underwater vehicle was developed by Israel’s IAI to bolster anti-submarine warfare and discreet maritime missions. It incorporates an advanced towed sonar provided by TKMS’ ATLAS ELEKTRONIK division.

Measuring 11 meters in length, approximately 1.12 meters in diameter, and weighing around 5.5 tonnes, the craft is compact enough to fit inside a standard 12.9-meter shipping container, allowing transport and deployment by land, air, or sea.

“With the acquisition of the first BlueWhale, we are consistently implementing the Navy’s strategy for introducing unmanned underwater systems,” Inspector of the German Navy Vice Admiral Jan Christian Kaack said.

The high-ranking navy official stated that by relying on proven technology on the market, Germany managed to radically shorten the decision-making processes down to just a few months instead of years.

The transfer comes as defence ties between Berlin and Jerusalem continue to deepen. In January, the two nations concluded a security agreement aimed at expanding collabouration in counterterrorism and cyber defence. In December, Germany authorized a $3.1 billion expansion of its procurement of the Arrow 3 missile defence system, jointly developed by Israel with US backing.

By Nazrin Sadigova