Germany Receives First Arrow 3 Air Defense System from Israel
JERUSALEM - Germany has officially received the first operational Arrow 3 air defense system from Israel following a formal handover ceremony at a German Air Force base near Berlin, according to Israel’s Ministry of Defense. The delivery represents a watershed moment in defense technology exports and bilateral military cooperation.
The Arrow 3 system was provided under a $4 billion defense contract signed between the two nations approximately two years ago and finalized in late 2023. Israel’s Ministry of Defense characterized the agreement as the largest defense export deal in the country’s history, with delivery successfully completed as scheduled in 2025.
Arrow 3 is produced by Israel Aerospace Industries and functions as the uppermost intercept layer of Israel’s integrated three-tier air defense system, complemented by Arrow 2, David’s Sling as the mid-range layer, and Iron Dome for close-range protection. The system’s radar, interceptors, and detection components are manufactured by IAI, while Elbit Systems developed the command and control architecture. Key subcontractors include government-owned Tomer and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.
The system’s operational credibility is substantial. During the past two years, Arrow 3 has protected Israeli territory at high intercept percentages, successfully countering hundreds of ballistic missiles launched from Iran and Yemen. Arrow 3 achieved its first wartime interception in November 2023, two months after the October 7 Hamas attack, engaging Iranian-backed Houthi ballistic missiles. The system subsequently demonstrated effectiveness against multiple Iranian ballistic missile barrages in 2024 and during the 12-day Israel-Iran conflict in 2025.
Developed collaboratively with the U.S. Missile Defense Agency since the 1980s, Arrow 3 represents decades of technological refinement and operational validation. Its deployment to Germany reflects international recognition of ballistic missile threats and the system’s proven combat effectiveness.
The handover carries symbolic weight reflecting complex historical ties between Israel and Germany. Israeli Ministry of Defense Director Amir Baram, identified as a second-generation Holocaust survivor, noted that a ballistic missile defense system developed by Israeli aerospace engineers will now defend Germany. Ambassador Ron Prosor referenced his family’s flight from Germany preceding the Holocaust, underscoring the historical significance of current defense partnerships.
Baram emphasized that Israeli defense capabilities serve broader Western security interests: “When Israel acts against nuclear threats, ballistic missiles, and terrorism, we are not only defending ourselves - we are protecting the entire Western world.”
The Arrow 3 delivery maintains momentum in broader Israel-Germany defense cooperation, which includes Israeli purchases of German submarines and naval vessels, alongside German acquisitions of Israeli Trophy active protection systems and Spike anti-tank missiles. Germany’s recent lifting of arms embargo restrictions on Israeli defense components further facilitates technological collaboration.
Source ID: SRCE-2025-1764792286505-1129