D.The fact that Germany has large gaps in air defense has now led to Chancellor Olaf Scholz announcing extensive investments in this segment.
A few days later it also became clear why the new air defense system announced by Scholz can be designed from the outset in such a way that neighboring European countries can participate in it: The Bundeswehr wants to procure the Arrow anti-missile defense system in Israel, which other countries are also using due to its long range ballistic missiles would protect.
During the visit of Israeli Prime Minister Jair Lapid to Germany in mid-September, he and Scholz then announced cooperation in the field of air defense. At the meeting, the Chancellor emphasized that Israel has a very powerful offer with the Arrow 3 system.
With this system for so-called territorial missile defense, the Bundeswehr will gain a new strategic capability that will also ensure 360-degree protection. As experts say, the system is designed to intercept incoming long-range missiles in the so-called midcourse phase in space.
Arrow 3 is said to be superior to the US THAAD system, which is also being considered by the Bundeswehr and which is intended to shoot down incoming ballistic missiles in their "terminal phase", particularly when it comes to defending against missiles with a range of several thousand kilometers. In contrast to Arrow 3, however, the THAAD missile can operate both endo- and exoatmospherically and, according to the American Missile Defense Agency, its operational altitude band overlaps with the operational altitudes of Patriot at the lower end and the SM-3 interceptor missile, which can only be used exoatmospherically, at the upper end. The SM-3 is primarily intended for use by the US armed forces with Aegis ships, some of which are stationed on NATO's southern flank.
For the Arrow system, which according to the Bundeswehr Procurement Office BAAINBw should already be available in 2025, in addition to the Arrow 3 type effectors and launch devices, the Green Pine Block C radar, a battle management center, a launching control center and additional components are procured.
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