Israel, Germany Begin Preparations for Arrow 3 Missile Defense Delivery

The Israeli Ministry of Defense confirmed that Israel and Germany have officially launched preparations for the delivery of the Arrow 3 missile defense system to the German armed forces, with deliveries expected in the coming months.

The move marks the operational start of Israel’s largest defense export contract to date and establishes Germany as the first European and NATO country to field the Israeli-developed exo-atmospheric interceptor system.

A coordination meeting was recently held in Germany involving senior officials from both nations. Leading the talks were Moshe Patel, head of Israel’s Missile Defense Organization (IMDO), Colonel Carsten Koepper, head of Germany’s Arrow 3 program, and Yaakov Galifat, general manager of Israel Aerospace Industries’ (IAI) MLM Division.

Attendees included representatives from key defense firms: IAI, ELTA, Elbit Systems, Germany’s IABG, and MBDA.

Arrow 3, jointly developed by Israel and the United States, is designed to intercept long-range ballistic missiles outside Earth’s atmosphere. According to the Israeli Ministry of Defense, the system has proven its combat effectiveness in recent conflicts, intercepting missiles launched at Israel on April 14 and October 1, 2024, from Yemen by Iranian-backed Houthi militants.

The Arrow weapon system forms the upper layer of Israel’s multi-tiered missile defense network, which also includes Iron Dome and David’s Sling. The Arrow 3 variant is equipped with a hit-to-kill interceptor, solid-fuel propulsion, and radar integration from ELTA.

Germany’s acquisition is part of its missile defense strategy under the European Sky Shield Initiative. The system is expected to protect German territory, critical infrastructure, and support NATO-wide air defense capabilities.