defense
Germany signs purchase of Israeli missile defense
An “Arrow-3” interceptor missile takes off from an Israeli military base on the Mediterranean coast. photo
© -/ISRAELI MINISTRY OF DEFENSE/dpa
In the wake of the war in Ukraine, Germany decided to expand its missile defense. An agreement is now being signed in Berlin – the starting signal for the Arrow 3 project.
With Arrow 3, Germany wants to protect itself against possible attacks with medium-range missiles – and its NATO allies at the same time. The “Arrow” can destroy enemy missiles at an altitude of over 100 kilometers and thus outside the atmosphere in early space with a direct hit.
The USA gave its ally Israel permission to sell the defense system last month. Arrow 3 was developed jointly by Israel and the USA.
According to Israeli information, the costs amount to almost four billion euros. It is the largest arms deal in Israeli history.
In June, the Bundestag’s Budget and Defense Committee voted in favor of the purchase. The money is said to come from the 100 billion special fund that was approved in response to the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.
Arrow is intended to close the German capability gap
The program is one of the building blocks for rebuilding the defense against air attacks, which was largely dismantled after the end of the Cold War, and adding a capability. The area protected on the ground increases and harmful substances such as warfare agents should atomize as safely as possible at high altitudes. Military officials have previously spoken of a “capability gap in combating ballistic missiles in the upper interceptor layer.”
According to the Ministry of Defense, Germany wants to achieve initial operational readiness (“initial capability”) within around two years. One of a total of three systems should then be ready for use. The planned location for this is the Holzdorf air force base, located on the state border between Brandenburg and Saxony-Anhalt. The so-called full capability for protection against threats from 360 degrees is planned by 2030 and can only succeed because the system is already on the market.
Arrow consists of the command post, radar sensors, launch devices with four Arrow 3 guided missiles each and other peripheral devices. It was developed with support from the USA. In the future, around 200 German soldiers will be employed to operate the weapon system.
Signs of special relationships
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said last month he was pleased with US approval of the deal. “The missile defense system was developed by Israel and the USA, so the project also represents a sign of our special German-Israeli relations. For us, this procurement project is essential in order to be able to protect Germany from ballistic missile attacks in the future. We are also making a contribution in… Framework of the NATO alliance. We would like to integrate the system into NATO air defense. In addition, Germany also supports the security of our neighboring countries.”
France is against the purchase
There was criticism of the purchase of Arrow 3 from France. Paris had spoken out in favor of favoring the European defense industry. Pistorius told the French newspaper “Le Monde” that it was important “that we have a protective shield over Europe as quickly as possible.” The European defense sector and French industry are important partners, but they cannot deliver everything that is needed.
The Essi (European Sky Shield Initiative) project is intended to help close gaps in the NATO protective shield for Europe and thus provide an answer to the changed security situation after the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. This also includes the purchase of Arrow 3. 19 countries are now participating in the project. France is not there. French President Emmanuel Macron repeatedly insists on Europe’s strategic autonomy.