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At its meeting on October 18, the Budget Committee of the German Bundestag approved the procurement of the Israeli-made Arrow missile defense system. The Federal Ministry of Finance presented the procurement project to the committee in a 25 million euro template.

In a government agreement with the Israeli Ministry of Defense, the Bundeswehr wants to procure the Arrow weapon system, the associated Arrow 3 guided missiles and the first spare parts packages and arrange services for the training of operating personnel, writes the BMVg in a press release. Including further support services and construction measures in Germany, the procurement volume amounts to around four billion euros, which is to be borne by the Bundeswehr special fund.

The Arrow weapon system consists of command posts, sensors and guided missile launchers and forms the core of the new territorial missile defense capability.

According to the BMVg's description, the Arrow 3 guided missiles can be used to combat enemy guided missiles as they approach outside the earth's atmosphere with a direct hit (hit-to-kill). The system will contribute to protecting Germany, the population and critical infrastructure from ballistic missiles in the upper interception layer. In the future, the aim is to integrate into the NATO alliance in close coordination with Israel and the USA.

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The guided missile launcher is one of the main components of the Arrow missile defense system, along with radar sensors and the command post. (Photo: IAI)

The Bundeswehr wants to achieve initial capability with Arrow as early as 2025. This is possible because the weapon system is already available. Further expansion is scheduled to be completed by 2030.

With the announcement last year that it would procure the Arrow air defense system from Israel, the federal government wants to take a significant step towards improving air defense. In June, the BAAINBw commissioned the production of complex components from the Israeli manufacturer IAI in a first contract (ESuTreported). The US has had approval to sell Arrow to Germany since August (ESuTreported).

On September 28, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and MBDA Germany signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to cooperate in the introduction of the Arrow missile defense system in Germany. MBDA says it will coordinate the activities of German industry that are necessary to support the program. As stated in a press release from the company, as part of the agreement, MBDA will support all necessary measures to adapt, integrate and maintain the system in Germany. Observers assume that ESG Elektroniksystem- und Logistik-GmbH will also take on a part in Arrow's industrial support (ESuTreported).

Editorial staff / gwh

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