In a significant development, the German Ministry of Defense has released a report announcing the approval of the purchase of Israel’s state-of-the-art Arrow-3 air defense system by the Budget Committee of the Bundestag, the lower house of the German parliament.
The committee has granted its approval for a substantial budget allocation of 4.4 billion euros, earmarked for additional procurement and development programs catering to the needs of the German Armed Forces, known as the Bundeswehr. The allocated funds will also be utilized for the acquisition of underwater drones, bolstering maritime patrol capabilities, and acquiring encrypted communications equipment.
German Minister Boris Pistorius emphasized that this investment marks a decisive step toward enhancing the country’s defense capabilities and strengthening ties with its international allies. The budget allocation represents a noteworthy shift in the nation’s strategic priorities.
The Arrow-3 air defense system, at the center of this acquisition, is a sophisticated guided missile designed to engage targets even beyond the Earth’s atmosphere. The German military’s objective is to attain initial operational readiness for this advanced system by early 2025, with plans to further expand its capabilities in the years ahead. This acquisition underscores Germany’s commitment to modernizing its defense infrastructure and contributing to its national security.