Israel moves forward on deploying Arrow-3 missile defence system in Germany in 2025
By Reuters
November 10, 2024JERUSALEM,
Nov 10 (Reuters) - Israel's Defence Ministry has begun coordinating
joint preparations with the German Federal Ministry of Defence for the
initial deployment of Israel's Arrow-3 missile interception system on
German soil in 2025, it said on Sunday.
The ministry said it has held meetings at Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) along with Israel defence firm Elbit Systems
(ESLT.TA), opens new tab and MBDA Deutschland GmbH.
The
Arrow system, which includes the Arrow-2 and Arrow-3 interceptors, was
developed in cooperation between Israel and the United States to counter
long-range ballistic missile threats, with IAI as the prime contractor.
Israel,
with U.S. approval, agreed last year to sell the Arrow-3 system to
Germany in a $3.5 billion deal, its biggest defence sale to date.
Germany and its
neighbours in Europe are boosting defence spending following Russia's
war in Ukraine.
The U.S. is a partner in the Arrow project and Boeing
(BA.N), opens new tab is involved in its production.
Arrow
is the upper layer of Israel's missile defences, together with the Iron
Dome, which takes out short-range threats such as mortars and rockets,
and mid-range defender David's Sling.
Arrow-2
intercepts ballistic missiles at long range, while the newer Arrow-3
specialises in knocking out missiles before they re-enter the Earth's
atmosphere.
Using cutting-edge technologies, the system proved effective against Iranian missile attacks in April and October.
After the Arrow systems helped to thwart Iran's massive missile and drone attack in April, a number of countries are
interested in purchasing the technology, according to IAI.
Reporting by Steven Scheer; editing by Barbara Lewis