On Wednesday, February 25, through an official statement, the German Navy indicated that it received its first Israeli-origin Blue Whale unmanned submarines in an official ceremony held on February 25, 2026, in Eckernförde. The incorporation of the Blue Whale Large Unmanned Underwater Vehicle system marks a relevant step in the modernization of the German naval force’s capabilities and in the integration of autonomous platforms within its operational structure.
The event was attended by State Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Defence Jens Plötner, as well as the CEO of TKMS ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems ATLAS Elektronik, Michael Ozegowski, and the President and CEO of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) ELTA Ltd., Boaz Levy. The Blue Whale is, to date, the largest unmanned submarine vehicle incorporated by the German Navy and is designed for long-range reconnaissance missions, with a length of 10.9 meters, a diameter of 1.12 meters, and an approximate weight of 5.5 tons.
The system is the result of cooperation between the German company TKMS ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems ATLAS Elektronik and the Israeli firm Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) ELTA Ltd. In November 2024, the German Navy evaluated it in the Baltic Sea for the detection and tracking of submarine targets, as well as for covert surface reconnaissance tasks. Following the results obtained during the trials, an accelerated acquisition was promoted, culminating in the delivery of the first unit in 2026.
The Inspector of the German Navy, Vice Admiral Jan Christian Kaack, highlighted the speed of the incorporation process and stated: “With the reception of the first Blue Whale, we consistently implement the Navy’s course in introducing unmanned underwater systems. We have opted for market-proven solutions, radically shortened decision-making processes, and involved the troops from the outset in defining the requirements. And that in a few months instead of years.” The officer described the process as “light-speed acquisition” and affirmed that “the construction of a hybrid fleet begins exactly now.”
The concept of a “hybrid fleet” refers to the combination of manned platforms and autonomous systems within the naval structure, in a context of transformation of modern warfare through the integration of conventional and innovative technologies, including artificial intelligence. As stated during the ceremony, the German Navy seeks to adapt its ships, submarines, helicopters, aircraft, and maritime infrastructure to an evolving threat environment, in which unmanned systems are acquiring a growing role.
The Blue Whale can operate for several weeks without a crew on board and carry out a significant portion of the missions traditionally assigned to manned submarines, including covert surface intelligence gathering, detection of submarines and underwater targets, acquisition of acoustic intelligence, and the location of naval mines on the seabed. The system incorporates advanced sonar-based sensors and satellite links that make it possible to generate a broad operational picture, in addition to enabling the surveillance of critical underwater infrastructure.
The development of the Blue Whale began in Israel, where the Israeli Navy initiated its use in 2024 as part of the expansion of its submarine capabilities in response to threats in the naval domain. The vehicle was developed by ELTA, a subsidiary of IAI specialized in electronic systems, and has accumulated thousands of hours of autonomous operations. With its incorporation, Germany becomes one of the few allied countries to operate this type of system, further consolidating industrial and technological cooperation between Berlin and Jerusalem in the field of naval defense.
*Cover image obtained from the German Navy.
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