A top Israeli air defense system credited with defeating waves of Iranian ballistic missiles is now, for the first time, in the hands of a foreign military and set to boost European defense.
The deployment of the Arrow 3 ballistic missile shield to Germany comes as NATO forces look to strengthen their long-range air defenses in the face of growing threats from Russia to the east. The system can intercept missile targets beyond Earth’s atmosphere, making it a high-value acquisition.
Boaz Levy, CEO of the state-run Israel Aerospace Industries, told Business Insider that Arrow 3 is the “perfect solution” for Germany to defend not only its own population but also that of its European neighbors from potential ballistic missile threats.
Levy, Arrow’s chief engineer, said the defensive system has intercepted hundreds of ballistic missiles launched by Iran and its Middle East allies over the past few years, describing Arrow as a “combat-proven” air defense.
The $3.5 billion sale of Arrow 3 to Germany in September 2023 is considered Israel’s largest-ever defense export deal, officials said.
Israel’s defense ministry said on Wednesday that it had handed over the first operational Arrow 3 system to the German military, officially giving Berlin control of the air defense.
Proven against deadly missiles
The Arrow systems are a joint product of IAI and US aerospace giant Boeing. Arrow 2 was deployed in 2000 and can intercept missiles in the upper atmosphere, while the newer Arrow 3 became operational in 2017 and can eliminate targets in space.
Both Arrow systems use a two-stage solid-fueled interceptor to strike incoming ballistic missiles and have been used in combat in recent years, making up the top level of Israel’s vaunted air defense network.
Israel has used Arrow to shield the country during three confrontations with Iran, which launched some 120 ballistic missiles at the country in April 2024, more than 180 ballistic missiles in October 2024, and over 550 ballistic missiles this past June.
Arrow, which has also intercepted ballistic missiles launched at Israel by Houthi rebels in Yemen, underwent several upgrades and software tweaks ahead of Israel’s most recent clash with Iran — its most serious one yet — to improve the system’s performance.
Levy said that Arrow was challenged many times and faced its toughest tests against the salvos of Iranian missiles, rather than lone Houthi launches. However, he said the air defense system proved itself “in a phenomenal way” with an interception rate of greater than 90%.
He said that IAI is currently developing an upgraded interceptor, the Arrow 4, that will eventually replace the decades-old Arrow 2 model.
A new shield for Europe
Arrow’s deployment to Germany comes as European countries face what Western officials warn is a rising Russian threat along NATO’s eastern edge.
In its ongoing war against Ukraine, the Russian military regularly attacks cities and civilian infrastructure with strike packages consisting of ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as hundreds of one-way attack drones. These attacks have pushed NATO countries to deploy additional defenses along the alliance’s eastern flank.
European countries are also purchasing new air defenses. Denmark, for instance, just inked a deal to buy Norway’s National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) and is expected to procure the French-Italian SAMP/T system as well. And now, IAI’s Arrow 3 is going live in Germany.
Arrow will augment Germany’s existing air defense network, which consists of the domestically produced IRIS-T SLM and the US-made MIM-104 Patriot, among other systems.
The Patriot, a long-range surface-to-air missile system, is another proven air defense system that has served as the top echelon of Ukraine’s air defense network, defending the country from Russian bombardments.
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