Germany has selected a second deployment site for its Israeli-made Arrow 3 missile defense system, expanding the country's future ballistic missile shield with a new system near Großkaufbeuren in the federal state of Bavaria.
The decision was announced by Alexander Götz, head of the Expansion Department at Germany's Federal Ministry of Defense, alongside Bavarian Minister-President Markus Söder and Luftwaffe Inspector Lt. Gen. Holger Neumann. The Bavarian location offers favorable geographic conditions and fits into the country's evolving integrated air and missile defense architecture.
Read more: Ukraine's New Drones Undermine russian Aircraft Shelter Strategy, Leaving Moscow With No Good Options
Arrow 3 system is designed to intercept ballistic missiles outside the Earth's atmosphere during the exo-atmospheric phase of flight. The system is capable of engaging intermediate-range ballistic missiles, such as russia's Oreshnik, as well as potentially intercontinental ballistic missiles, making it one of the most advanced missile defense systems currently entering European service.
Germany signed a $3.5 billion agreement to purchase the Israeli system in 2023, making it the first European operator of Arrow 3. Rather than serving only German territory, the system is expected to contribute to broader European missile defense by detecting and intercepting ballistic threats at long ranges before they reach their intended targets.
Berlin is also moving to expand its missile defense capabilities further. Germany's parliament has already approved plans to acquire additional Arrow 3 batteries in a deal reportedly worth around €3 billion, while officials are seeking to localize production of interceptor missiles within Germany to improve long-term supply and sustainment.
Despite the strategic importance of the deployment, recent events have highlighted vulnerabilities around the system itself. According to German media, unidentified drones were observed flying over the first Arrow 3 deployment site shortly before it became operational, and authorities were unable to intercept them.
Read more: Ukrainian Intelligence Uncovers Inner Workings of russian Polyus Research Institute (Video)
