Germany strengthens missile shield with Israeli Arrow 3 system

Germany has taken a significant step in strengthening its air defence capabilities, with the chief of the German Air Force traveling to Israel to receive the first element of the advanced Arrow 3 missile defence system.

The move comes as Berlin accelerates efforts to close gaps in its national defence in response to growing regional security threats, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz visited Tel Aviv to meet with officials from Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), the developer of the Arrow 3 system. During his visit, Gerhartz accepted delivery of the system’s central communication component, an Air Force spokesperson confirmed.

The Arrow 3 system is designed to intercept ballistic missiles at altitudes exceeding 100 kilometers, allowing it to destroy incoming threats outside the Earth’s atmosphere—something Germany’s current defense network cannot do. Germany aims to achieve initial operational readiness for the system by the end of 2025, integrating Arrow 3 into its broader strategic defense framework. 

"With Arrow 3, Germany is procuring an Israeli weapons system on my initiative that will help to protect Germany against threats from the air," Gerhartz said.

Construction is already underway at Holzdorf Air Base in eastern Germany, approximately 75 kilometers south of Berlin, which will be the first of three planned sites for Arrow 3 deployment.

By Naila Huseynova