An elite Israeli air defense system, renowned for its exceptional success in neutralizing successive waves of Iranian ballistic missiles, has for the very first time been entrusted to a foreign power and is now poised to enhance the overall defensive posture of the European continent. The historic transfer of the Arrow 3 ballistic missile shield to Germany represents not merely a technological export but a profound strategic development, occurring precisely as NATO and its member nations intensify efforts to reinforce their long-range air defenses in light of escalating concerns and overt threats emanating from Russia on the alliance’s eastern frontier. Distinguished by its capability to intercept enemy missiles outside the Earth’s atmosphere, the Arrow 3 stands as a sophisticated instrument of deterrence and a highly prized component of defensive infrastructure.
Boaz Levy, the chief executive officer of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI)—the state-owned company responsible for designing and producing the Arrow systems—told Business Insider that Arrow 3 constitutes an ideal, tailor-made solution for Germany. In his view, the system provides Germany not only with the immense capability to safeguard its own population and national assets but also to protect its European allies in the face of potential ballistic missile attacks. Levy, who also serves as the chief engineer behind the Arrow project, emphasized the system’s proven battlefield pedigree, noting that over recent years it has successfully intercepted hundreds of missiles launched by Iran and allied militant organizations across the Middle East. He described the Arrow network as a fully combat-validated defensive apparatus, having demonstrated consistent reliability and precision under real combat conditions.
The landmark sale of Arrow 3 to Germany, valued at approximately $3.5 billion and concluded in September 2023, has been hailed by Israeli officials as the largest defense export deal in the nation’s history. On Wednesday, Israel’s Ministry of Defense formally completed the handover of the first operational Arrow 3 system to the German armed forces, transferring full operational control and marking Berlin’s assumption of responsibility for this advanced defensive platform. This $3.5 billion agreement not only signifies a milestone in defense cooperation between Israel and Germany but also underscores the growing demand for interoperable high-altitude missile defense systems within NATO.
Developed jointly by Israel Aerospace Industries and U.S. aerospace titan Boeing, the Arrow system embodies decades of collaborative innovation between two technologically advanced defense sectors. The preceding Arrow 2 variant, deployed at the turn of the millennium in the year 2000, was engineered to intercept hostile missiles within the upper layers of the atmosphere. Its successor, the Arrow 3, which entered operational service in 2017, expanded this capability to exo-atmospheric interception—effectively enabling the destruction of enemy missiles in the vacuum of space before they can re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere. Both models rely on advanced two-stage, solid-fueled interceptors designed to engage and destroy rapidly moving ballistic threats with remarkable accuracy. Together, they form the apex of Israel’s multilayered air defense system—a network internationally acclaimed for its integration of speed, precision, and reliability.
Israel has repeatedly turned to the Arrow system to shield its population during a series of confrontations with Iran, each marked by the mass launching of ballistic missiles toward Israeli territory. In April 2024, approximately 120 such missiles were fired, while in October of the same year the figure exceeded 180. The conflict culminated in June with the most intense barrage yet—over 550 ballistic missiles launched in a single episode. Throughout these attacks, Arrow consistently demonstrated its defensive power. The system has also proven its effectiveness against threats originating from Yemen, where Houthi rebels have fired ballistic missiles toward Israel. Prior to the most recent confrontation, Israeli engineers conducted several software upgrades and technical refinements to enhance system responsiveness, increase interception precision, and optimize target discrimination. According to Levy, while the system has withstood numerous tests, the intense salvos orchestrated by Iran’s military presented its most formidable challenge. Nonetheless, the Arrow exceeded expectations, achieving an interception success rate surpassing ninety percent, a figure he described as “truly phenomenal.” IAI, he added, continues developing a next-generation variant, the Arrow 4, which will ultimately replace the long-serving Arrow 2 and further advance missile defense capabilities.
The introduction of the Arrow system into European defense architecture arrives at a critical moment. Western officials have repeatedly warned that the threat posed by Russia along NATO’s eastern boundaries is intensifying. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has illustrated Moscow’s persistent use of ballistic and cruise missile strikes, often complemented by swarms of one-way attack drones, against Ukrainian cities and civilian infrastructure. Such tactics have compelled NATO to accelerate the fortification of its eastern flank and to invest more heavily in long-range and multi-layered air defense solutions.
As part of this wider strategic shift, several European nations are now acquiring advanced missile shield technologies. Denmark, for example, recently signed a contract to procure Norway’s National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) and is anticipated to add the Franco-Italian SAMP/T system to its inventory. Against this backdrop of heightened preparedness, Israel’s Arrow 3 now becomes an integral component of German and European defense strategy. Once operational, the system will work in concert with Germany’s existing array of air defense assets, which already includes the domestically produced IRIS-T SLM and the American MIM-104 Patriot batteries.
The Patriot system, also a long-range surface-to-air missile interceptor, has established a sterling reputation through its ongoing use in Ukraine, where it represents one of the central pillars of the country’s aerial defense against relentless Russian bombardment. By integrating the Arrow 3 with other proven systems like the Patriot, Germany and its NATO allies seek to create a truly layered defensive network—one capable of countering every tier of aerial threat, from low-flying drones to high-altitude intercontinental ballistic missiles. With its track record of combat success and its advanced technological design, Arrow 3 symbolizes a new shield for Europe, reinforcing continental security and demonstrating the continuing importance of transnational defense collaboration in an era of renewed geopolitical tension.
Sourse: https://www.businessinsider.com/europe-deploying-israeli-arrow-system-shot-down-iranian-ballistic-missiles-2025-12
