The Bundeswehr is today establishing the initial operational capability (IOC) of the Israeli long-range air defense system Arrow 3 at the Schönewalde/Holzdorf airbase – and thus has an exo-atmospheric interception capability for the first time. For Germany, this represents a quantum leap in security policy: for the first time, the Federal Republic can combat long-range ballistic missiles at altitudes of up to around 100 kilometers and distances of up to 2,500 kilometers.
The procurement is being financed from the 100 billion special fund and the investment volume is between 3.6 and 4 billion euros. This is the first time Arrow 3 has been deployed outside Israel (
“First national capability to protect against long-range missiles”
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius speaks of a historic step: “For the first time, we are gaining the national ability to provide early warning and protect our population and infrastructure from long-range ballistic missiles.”
The program developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Boeing The Arrow 3 system developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Boeing will form the top layer of the German air defence system in future: the system combines the Green Pine long-range radar, command post elements and interceptor missiles that neutralize warheads in space kinetically – i.e. without an explosive charge. Alternatively, a proximity fuse can trigger a fragmentation warhead to destroy missiles flying close by.
Broad political support – but also criticism
There is strong political support for the introduction of the new system. Saxony-Anhalt’s Minister President Reiner Haseloff emphasizes the security policy and economic importance for the region. Brandenburg is investing around 100 million euros in infrastructure projects around the site, while the military is investing around 700 million in new parking and maintenance hangars.
Resistance comes mainly from the left: During the Easter marches, the Left Party warned of a new “arms race”, and there are also differing positions within the SPD/BSW coalition in Brandenburg.
France, on the other hand, criticizes Germany’s decision from an industrial policy perspective – Paris would have preferred European system development and warns against Germany becoming more dependent on the USA, which had to approve the Arrow 3 procurement.
No ESSI solution – and no “onion skin mix-up”
Arrow 3 is repeatedly placed in the context of the European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI) – quite wrongly. Lieutenant General Lutz Kohlhaus already made it clear in 2023 that the introduction of Arrow 3 as part of the 20-nation ESSI structure was not politically feasible. Arrow 3 is therefore a purely national decision for Germany.
This is also relevant for Austria: In the Austrian Armed Forces is currently only working on medium-range ground-based air defense (GBAD-MR), not on long-range solutions. A type decision is not expected until 2026 at the earliest.
For real long-range systems – such as Patriot PAC-3, SAMP/T NG or Arrow 3 – the content planning in Austria will not begin until around 2027 according to current estimates. When and to what extent the country could actually have such a capability is currently completely open.
In short, there is currently no ESSI “buying group” or common training platform that you could simply join for long-range capabilities.
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Arrow 3 remains a German project for the time being – NATO integration possible at a later date
Pistorius emphasizes that the new capability will be integrated into NATO-air defense in the long term. For the moment, however, Arrow 3 is an exclusively German project – and marks the entry into an interception technology that only Israel and the USA have mastered at this level to date.
Germany is thus sending a clear signal: the threat from long-range ballistic missiles is being taken seriously – and missile defense is being raised to the highest technical level available today.
Here for further reports on the Bundeswehr.
