Israel reaches significant milestone in Arrow 3 defense agreement with Germany

The Israeli and German Ministries of Defense have officially begun preparations for the upcoming delivery of the Arrow 3 missile defense system to the German armed forces. This milestone represents significant progress in what stands as the largest defense export deal in Israel’s history.

The Israeli Defense Ministry announced that a recent high-level coordination meeting took place in Germany, led by Moshe Patel, head of the Israel Missile Defense Organization (IMDO) under the Directorate of Defense Research and Development; Colonel Carsten Koepper, who oversees the Arrow 3 Program for Germany, and Yaakov Galifat, general manager of the MLM Division at Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).

Senior representatives from leading Israeli and German defense companies involved in the program participated in the session. Attendees included officials from IAI’s MLM Division, ELTA, and Elbit Systems, as well as from German firms IABG and MBDA.

Kan 11 reported in early May that Lt.-Gen. Ingo Gerhartz of the Luftwaffe (German Air Force) visited Israel just before a Houthi missile struck near Ben-Gurion International Airport. During his visit, “He received the first components of the Arrow system at Israel Aerospace Industries, including the central communications module.”

Germany will soon gain the capability to intercept incoming missiles at altitudes of up to 100 kilometers (about 62 miles), beyond the Earth’s atmosphere and within the near-space layer – an area where it previously lacked defensive coverage.

Jointly developed by Israel and the United States, the Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 interceptors are designed to counter long-range ballistic threats in exo-atmospheric space. Their effectiveness was proven during missile attacks that took place on April 14 and Oct. 1, 2024, and they continue to play a vital role in Israel’s defense, routinely intercepting threats launched from Yemen by Iran-backed Houthi militants.

The defense system will be deployed across three locations, with the first site at Holzdorf Air Base in eastern Germany, south of Berlin, where construction is already in progress.

Since his visit to Israel, Gerhartz has officially stepped down as the inspector of the German Air Force. He concluded his tenure on May 27, 2025, after serving in the position since May 29, 2018.

His term was the longest in the history of the Luftwaffe. Following his retirement, Gerhartz is set to assume command of the Allied Joint Force Command in Brunssum, Netherlands.

IMDO remains at the forefront of developing and producing Israel’s multi-layered missile defense system. It also plays a key role in fostering international collaboration on cutting-edge defense technologies and advancing the global presence of Israeli defense industries.