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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120 Articles
With Arrow 3, First European Nation Now Shielded From Ballistic Missile Attacks
Germany has placed the first Israeli-made Arrow 3 ballistic missile defense battery on operational duty at the Schönewalde/Holzdorf air base south of Berlin, becoming the first European country formally under the protection of the system against long-range Russian missiles, according to Militarnyi on December 3. At a ceremony on the base, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said the activation of initial elements of Arrow 3 “for the first t…
The new defense system can intercept ballistic missiles above the atmosphere, even at space level
Germany is using the Israeli defence system Arrow for the first time, to protect against Russian missiles and to strengthen NATO.
The first part of the Arrow missile defense system was activated at Holzdorf Air Base in Saxony-Anhalt.
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