Germany has decided to expand its missile defense system. Now the US is giving the green light for the billion dollar deal with Israel. In Europe there are critics.
An Israeli defense system should offer Germany and its neighbors better protection against possible rocket attacks in around two years. The United States has given its ally Israel permission to sell the Arrow 3 defense system, the Israeli Ministry of Defense announced.
Arrow 3 was jointly developed by Israel and the US, giving the US a say. Negotiations for the purchase began last year in response to the start of Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine. With the guided missiles, long-range enemy missiles outside the earth’s atmosphere are to be destroyed by a direct hit.
“Today is a historic day,” said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “Seventy-five years ago, the Jewish people had been reduced to ashes on the soil of Nazi Germany. Seventy-five years later, the Jewish state is giving Germany, another Germany, the tools to defend itself.” This is a historic turning point.
Largest arms deal in Israeli history
US approval was seen as the last major hurdle in the historic treaty between Germany and Israel. The costs amount to almost four billion euros, making it the largest arms deal in Israeli history.
Pistorius: Way to procure Arrow 3 is clear
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius was pleased with the green light for the sale of the missile defense system. “This now clears the way for us to initiate the procurement of the Arrow 3 system,” said the SPD politician in a statement. “The missile defense system was developed by Israel and the USA, so the project is also a sign of our special German-Israeli relationship.”
This procurement project is essential in order to be able to protect Germany from ballistic missile attacks in the future. “In addition, we are making a contribution within the framework of the NATO alliance. We would like to integrate the system into the NATO air defense system,” Pistorius continued. Germany is thus also supporting the security of its neighboring countries.
Ceremony planned in Germany
In a next step, representatives of the Israeli and German defense ministries and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) are to sign a declaration of commitment. This is expected in the next few days or weeks, the ceremony is planned in Germany, said Mosche Patel, who is responsible for missile defense at the Israeli Defense Ministry. After approval by the parliaments of both countries, the signing of the final contract is expected in November.
A completely new infrastructure with new personnel will be built for the defense system that will be delivered to Germany, Patel said. An initial operational capability of the system is planned by 2025, with full operational capability by 2030. The Israeli Air Force will be involved in the process and will share its experiences with using Arrow 3.
The missile defense system can protect “all German citizens throughout Germany”. The decisive factor here is that Arrow 3 can also be used on the go. “We’re giving the German Air Force a kind of package,” Patel explained. “We train their staff and they then have the ability to train their own officers in the future.”
Strack-Zimmermann: “very relieved”
The chairwoman of the Defense Committee, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann (FDP), said she was “very relieved” about the USA’s permission to sell Arrow 3. “What’s special about it is that it’s the first antiballistic system that also in the stratosphere, i.e. at an altitude of 100 kilometers,” she said. “It will help protect Germany and our neighboring countries from air raids in the future.” The system consists of command and control command post, radar devices, launch devices and guided missiles.
Israeli Defense Minister Joav Galant spoke of a “significant decision” that would also benefit Israel’s economy. “It is also particularly significant for every Jewish person that Germany is buying an Israeli defense system.”
In June, the budget and defense committees of the Bundestag voted in favor of the purchase. The money is to be financed from the 100 billion special fund that was passed in response to the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.
France criticizes Germany’s purchase intentions
However, German purchase intentions are not viewed positively everywhere in Europe. French President Emmanuel Macron recently warned European partners against simply procuring what is currently available. In order to prevent useless systems from being bought by non-European manufacturers, a European strategy debate is needed first of all, he warned.
According to Macron, it should also be borne in mind that any decision to go for a non-European system would have a negative impact on European industry and could undermine Europe’s strategic sovereignty. There are numerous European solutions in all key segments of air defense.
The concerns are also shared by experts. The procurement of Arrow 3 does not correspond to any of the capability goals that have been set for all allies as part of the NATO Defense Planning Process (NDPP), the German scientist Lydia Wachs recently noted in an analysis for the Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik. The only Russian system that resembles a medium-range ballistic missile is the Kinzhal missile. In the Ukraine, however, it has been shown that this can also be intercepted with existing Patriot defense systems.