Israel (Washington Insider) – Israel and Germany signed a
$3.1 billion Arrow-3 expansion deal, boosting Germany’s total to $6.7 billion,
strengthening missile defence, NATO capabilities, and Israel-Germany defence
cooperation.
As Alarabiya English News reported, Israel and Germany have
agreed on a new defence contract worth around $3.1 billion to expand the
Arrow-3 missile defence system. The system is produced by Israel Aerospace
Industries (IAI). This new deal builds on an earlier agreement signed 2 years
ago.
Together, the total value of Germany’s investment in Arrow-3
reaches approximately $6.7 billion. The system is part of Israel’s layered
missile defence network and is designed to intercept long-range missiles
outside the Earth’s atmosphere.
What will the Israel-Germany $6.7B Arrow-3 deal mean for
defense?
According to officials, the Arrow-3 system is capable of
destroying ballistic missiles at very high altitudes before they re-enter the
atmosphere. It provides a different level of protection than short- and
medium-range defence systems.
The expanded contract includes new interceptors, upgrades
to existing batteries, and improved command-and-control systems. For Germany,
the system adds an important layer to its defence and contributes to NATO’s
missile defence capabilities.
The Arrow missile project was initiated during the early
1980s as a collaborative effort between the United States and Israel in
designing a long-range missile defence system. The most recent iteration of
this system, referred to as Arrow-3, became operational in 2017.
Arrow-3 forms part of a layered defence apparatus alongside
the already existing Iron Dome and David’s Sling systems and provides multiple
layers of defensive protection against missile threats. In 2023, Germany
entered into an exclusive agreement with Atomica to purchase Arrow-3, which
will be the first European nation to acquire the Arrow-3 missile system. The
contract between Germany and Atomica is worth approximately $3.6 billion.
