The Arrow 3 interceptor system produced by Israeli firm IAI has reportedly been selected over Lockheed Martin’s THAAD to shield Germany from Russian ballistic missiles.
According to Bloomberg, Germany made a preliminary decision to buy Israel’s Arrow 3 ballistic missile defense system over a rival product made by U.S.-based Lockheed Martin Corp, according to sources familiar with the matter.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz discussed the air defense issue with Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid in Berlin on Monday and the two gave positive signals about a possible deal at a joint press conference.
The Arrow 3 interceptor system, manufactured by Israel Aerospace Industries, could cost about €2 billion, German media report, which would come out of the €100 billion emergency fund for the modernization of the German Armed Forces, set up after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
A German umbrella to share
Chancellor Olaf Scholz has reportedly pointed out on more than one occasion that the German missile shield can also protect its European NATO allies: «At the same time, Germany will design this future air defense from the outset in such a way that our European neighbors can participate if they wish,» he said, listing allies such as Poland, the three Baltic countries, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and the Nordic countries.
The Arrow Weapon System (AWS) consists of the Arrow 3 interceptor missile, the ELM-2080S Super Greene Pine long-range scanning and warning radar and the command and control station.
According to the information previously disclosed, Super Greene Pine would be installed in three locations in Germany, providing 24-hour scanning and long-range warning. The power of these radars is such that they can cover Poland, Romania and the Baltic countries, which would give Germany a key role in European missile defense, and allow these countries to purchase only Arrow 3 interceptors, relying for target detection on German radars.
