Germany approved nearly 800 million euros in arms exports to Israel in first five months of 2026

Germany approved arms exports to Israel worth nearly 800 million euros in the first five months of 2026, a figure exceeding the total for the preceding 20 months combined. German media reported this, citing a response from the Foreign Ministry to a parliamentary inquiry.

More than 60% of the approved export value is designated for a significant naval project, which analysts believe is the "INS Drakon" submarine from German manufacturer TKMS. The Dolphin II-class submarine is valued at approximately 480 million euros and was reportedly recently handed over to the Israeli navy.

These export approvals occur as Berlin's policy on supplying arms to Israel faces criticism, particularly in light of the ongoing war in Gaza and accusations of violations of international humanitarian law. While the German government had previously announced restrictions on certain military equipment potentially used in Gaza, it has since reverted to a case-by-case decision-making process.

Experts point to a lack of transparency in arms export deals, with governments often releasing limited details. Critics argue that Berlin does not sufficiently consider the possibility of German military equipment being used in conflicts resulting in civilian casualties. Germany is one of the world's largest arms exporters, and in the first half of 2026, it approved military equipment exports totaling 13.87 billion euros, four times more than in the same period last year. The majority of these exports continue to go to Ukraine.

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More than 60 percent of the value of approved permits relates to one major naval project, which analysts estimate to be the submarine 'INS Drakon' from German manufacturer TKMS.