Germany Gets Arrow 3 Missile Defense System From Israel
Germany has received its first Arrow 3 missile defense systems from Israel, making it the first country outside Israel to deploy the advanced anti-ballistic weapon.
The delivery marks a major step in Germany’s missile defense posture as the country expands its role in European and NATO security.
The Arrow 3, jointly developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Boeing, is designed to intercept intercontinental ballistic missiles in space, outside the Earth’s atmosphere. According to Israeli officials, the handover follows a record-breaking €3.6 billion ($3.9 billion) deal signed two years ago—Israel’s largest arms export to date.
In a statement, IAI CEO Boaz Levy said, “Germany has expressed interest not only in Arrow 3 but also in the upcoming Arrow 4 air defense system. The relationship between Israel and Germany runs deep, even when occasional disagreements arise between allies. I expect more deals and closer cooperation in the future.”
Germany plans to initially deploy Arrow 3 interceptors at the Holzdorf Air Base, about 120 kilometers south of Berlin. Additional systems are expected to be stationed at sites in northwestern and southern Germany. The first Arrow 3 batteries are scheduled to become operational in early 2026, according to Israeli and German defense officials.
The German Ministry of War has confirmed that the system will be integrated into NATO’s missile defense network. The Arrow 3’s deployment is intended to provide a new strategic layer of high-altitude, long-range interception capability to counter threats from beyond Europe’s borders.
Germany selected the Arrow 3 following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, which triggered a broad reassessment of military readiness and air defense needs across Europe. The acquisition of the system is one of Germany’s major post-invasion defense purchases, alongside other NATO-oriented modernization efforts.
As noted by the Israeli Ministry of War, Arrow 3 played a major role during Israel’s 12-day exchange of strikes with Iran earlier this year. During the conflict, the system intercepted long-range missiles with a reported success rate of 86%. Arrow 3 was also used to intercept attacks launched by the Houthi movement in Yemen, Israeli officials said.
The Arrow 3 deployment comes at a time of delicate diplomacy between Israel and its allies. While Germany has long supported Israel’s right to respond to Hamas-led attacks, it temporarily paused arms exports to Israel in August 2025 following humanitarian concerns during the Gaza campaign. The ban was lifted after an October ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, and bilateral talks resumed.
Chancellor Merz is expected to arrive in Israel later this week for talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. It will be the first formal visit by a European leader to Israel in several months.