Germany Begins Work on Arrow 3 Missile Defense System

Germany has started building infrastructure for the Arrow 3 missile defense system at Holzdorf Airbase, about 75 kilometers south of Berlin, aiming to achieve initial operational capability by 2025.

The system, developed by Israel in cooperation with the United States, is designed to intercept ballistic missiles at altitudes over 100 kilometers—beyond the Earth's atmosphere. A spokesman for Germany’s military procurement agency said full operational readiness is expected by 2030, as per Israeli media.

The Arrow 3 system is part of Germany’s effort to rebuild its air defense capabilities, which were reduced after the Cold War. It will address gaps in defending against long-range missile threats. Construction at Holzdorf Airbase is scheduled for completion by 2028, while planning for additional bases in northern and southern Germany is ongoing.

Israel’s defense ministry confirmed that a seminar on the Arrow 3 system was held on February 24 for a German military delegation led by General Lutz Kohlhaus, the Deputy Commander of the German Air Force.

Germany’s investment in the Arrow 3 system is part of the European Sky Shield Initiative, launched in response to security concerns after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Bundestag approved the agreement in June 2023. The deal, valued at over $3.5 billion, received approval from the United States in August 2023 and is the largest defense purchase in Israel’s history, according to Israel’s defense ministry.