Germany is preparing to activate the first battery of the Israeli-made Arrow 3 missile defense system, which is designed to intercept incoming long-range ballistic missiles.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius stated that this system will significantly strengthen the security of his country and its allies.
"For the first time, we acquire the capability for early warning and protection of our population and infrastructure from long-range ballistic missiles. With this strategic capability, unique among our European partners, we secure our central role in the heart of Europe," Pistorius told the German Press Agency (dpa) in Berlin.
He also added that "this means we are not only protecting ourselves, but also our partners. We are strengthening the European pillar of NATO and fulfilling a NATO planning objective."
Reaction to the threat from Russia
The system, which Germany procured from Israel, is considered a response to the perceived threat posed by Russia. The Arrow 3 technology is designed to destroy enemy missiles at altitudes up to 100 kilometers—a capability that the German Armed Forces lacked until now.
The Schönewalde/Holzdorf airbase, south of Berlin, will be the first of the three planned installation sites for the system. Germany will be the first country outside Israel to deploy the Arrow 3, as part of a €3.6 billion ($4.2 billion) agreement.
New investment in European anti-aircraft defense
After the end of the Cold War, many European countries limited—and then neglected—the protection of military and civilian targets from air attacks. However, NATO circles have recently pointed out that defensive capabilities against air threats should be increased by 400%.
The German government is now investing much more actively in air defense. At the same time, it has launched the initiative for a European air defense system, the European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI), with 23 countries participating in the project.
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