According to information published by "The Jerusalem Post" on December 6, 2020, Israel pushes the United States to give the green light for the sale of Arrow-3 air defense missile systems to Germany.
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The Arrow-3 is an air defense missile system jointly developed by Israel and the United States. (Picture source IAI)
Following the war in Ukraine, Germany wants to strengthen its air defense against the Russian threat and more particularly Russian missile attacks such as Iskander-M and Iskander-K which are widely used in military operations in Ukraine.
Citing information from the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Germany is ready to invest €100 billion to modernize its armed forces and protect its airspace with new short-range and very short-range air defense systems.
German Ministry of Defense has launched the LVS NNbS program that will bridge a current capability gap when it comes to protecting ground troops during deployed operations as well as securing tactical operation centers and other assets against short- and very short-range aerial threats.
According to the German Government, the LVS project is to replace the Patriot air defense system for medium and long ranges by 2031 and expand its capabilities. Currently, the German army has twelve ground-based Patriot air defense missile systems. In addition, the LVS NNbS will also replace the Mantis weapon system and the Ozelot light air defense system and expand their capabilities. The German armed forces currently had two Mantis systems and two Ozelot platoons.
The acquisition of the Israeli-made Arrow-3 air defense missile system will be part of the European development of a joint air defense program named European Sky Shield Initiative which will involve 14 NATO member countries.
In October 2022, Defense Ministers from 14 NATO Allies and Finland signed a Letter of Intent for the development of a “European Sky Shield Initiative”. Spearheaded by Germany, the initiative aims to create a European air and missile defense system through the common acquisition of air defense equipment and missiles by European nations. This will strengthen NATO’s Integrated Air and Missile Defense.
The Arrow-3 is an anti-ballistic missile defense system jointly developed and produced by IAI (Israel Aerospace Industries) and the United States. The missile system is designed to intercept and destroy the newest, longer-range threats, especially those carrying weapons of mass destruction.
The Arrow-3 missile can be launched by a TEL (Transporter Erector Launcher) vehicle. The missile features two solid propulsion stages, including a booster and a sustainer. It has a maximum firing range of 2,400 km and can intercept aerial threats at an altitude of up to 100 km.
