Arrow-3 Systems Bought by Germany Could Intercept Iskander Missiles Over Russian Territory

The Arrow 3 missile-defense systems that Germany purchased from Israel have enough range to intercept Iskander ballistic missiles while they are still flying over Russian territory.

Militarnyi reported on this, citing an analysis of the system’s capabilities.

Germany bought its first long-range Arrow 3 missile-defense system in 2023, in a deal worth about EUR 3 billion. The system will be integrated into Europe’s joint air-defense network.

In December, the first Arrow 3 battery will already reach initial operational capability. This became possible after the deployment of the system’s first element in Schönewalde and the preparation of personnel, who completed training with the help of Israeli specialists.

Arrow 3 Capabilities

The mission of the Arrow 3 system is to intercept medium- and long-range ballistic missiles at exospheric altitudes — essentially outside the atmosphere, at heights above 100 kilometers.

The United States, as a partner, participates in Israel’s development of the Arrow weapons system and manufactures a significant portion of its components. Therefore, exporting the system requires approval not only from the Israeli government but also from the United States.

The guided interceptor missile used in this system is capable of destroying long-range enemy missiles outside the Earth’s atmosphere using a direct-impact (hit-to-kill) method.

The exact technical specifications, including the dimensions, of the Arrow 3 missiles, remain classified. It is known that the missile is somewhat smaller than the previous Arrow 2 version, yet it has a greater interception range and altitude. Arrow 2 had an interception range of up to 100 kilometers (150 kilometers according to other sources) and a maximum interception altitude of 50 kilometers.

It has been publicly stated that Arrow 3’s interception altitude is “over 100 kilometers.” Various sources also often claim that its interception range is 2,400 kilometers, but this is incorrect.

According to the Israeli manufacturer, the system can intercept ballistic missiles launched from up to 2,400 kilometers away, rather than having that range.

If we assume that, similar to the increase in interception altitude, the range has also doubled – a reasonably conservative estimate – then deploying such a system on NATO’s eastern flank, together with the German troops already stationed there, would allow the interception of Russian ballistic missiles over the territories of Russia and Belarus, before they enter NATO airspace. For example, if such a system were placed near Kyiv, it could protect an area from Rivne to Sumy against ballistic missile attacks.

This is a significant advantage over lower-tier systems such as the Patriot, which can intercept ballistic missiles only during the terminal phase of their flight and within a limited sector. As a result, even a missile successfully intercepted in the terminal phase may fall on friendly territory and cause considerable collateral damage.