US EditionGermany starts putting into place the Arrow 3 missile defense system, bought from Israel
Germany deployed the Israeli Arrow 3 missile defense system to close its long-range air defense gap amid threats from Russia and others, with an interception rate over 90%, officials said.
- On Dec. 3, 2025 Germany declared initial operational capability for the Arrow 3 interceptor system at Schönewalde Air Base near Berlin, receiving the first operational components from Israel's Ministry of Defense; this marks Arrow 3's first deployment outside Israel.
- Following Russia's 2022 invasion, Berlin accelerated plans to acquire three Arrow 3 batteries in 2023 as part of a rapid rearmament push.
- Developed with the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, Arrow 3 uses two-stage solid-fueled interceptors with a 2,400 kilometres range and 100 km ceiling, proven in wartime interceptions including Nov. 9, 2023.
- At the handover ceremony, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said the system gives Germany early-warning and protection against long-range ballistic missiles and secures its central role in Europe by integrating into NATO/European air-defence efforts.
- Additional batteries will be deployed to Schleswig-Holstein and Bavaria as Germany aims for full operational capability by 2030, while exports require approval from Israel, the purchasing country and the U.S.
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With this arrangement, Berlin claims to "take responsibility" and "strengthen the European pillar of NATO", according to German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius.
Germany became the first European country to implement the Arrow Air Defense System, built to intercept the medium-acting ballistic missiles, such as Oresnik from Russia, in an attempt to counter...
On Wednesday, the German Air Force activated the anti-aircraft system 'Arrow 3', acquired from Israel, to protect itself against ballistic missile threats, as part of the increase in German air defence investments in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Air Force Inspector Holger Neumann stated during a speech at a military training camp in Annaburger Heide (east) that there is now a "completely new capacity of strategic importance." For…
The Bundeswehr is the first army in Europe to operate the Arrow-3 system. It is intended to ward off missiles already outside the Earth's atmosphere – and to protect Europe as well.
On Wednesday, the German Air Force launched the first part of the Arrow long-range missile shield, deployed for the first time outside Israel and intended to strengthen European air defence against the Russian threat.
An advanced Israeli missile defense system was deployed today at a German air base. According to the manufacturer, the Arrow has a range of 2,400 kilometers. The system can shoot down ballistic missiles at an altitude of over 100 kilometers, above the atmosphere. This is the first time the defense system has been deployed outside Israel, according to The Jerusalem Post. Germany paid over 3.5 billion euros for it. It is the most expensive defense…
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