Germany wants to replenish its arsenal with the Israeli Arrow 4 missile defense system

The Bundeswehr wants to purchase the Arrow 4 missile defense system currently being developed in Israel.

Hartpunkt reported on this.

Such intentions were voiced by Lieutenant General Lutz Kohlhaus, Deputy Inspector of the German Air Force, during a speech at the CPM GmbH Ground Air Defense Summit in Berlin on May 7.

“The Arrow 4 is a further development of the Arrow 2 system, which covers the altitude range above the Patriot systems in the transition layer to space,” Kohlhaus explained.

With the advanced system, together with the deployment of Arrow 3, the first unit of which will be operational in northeastern Germany at the end of the year, the Air Force will be able to cover the entire altitude range in the future.

This decision was communicated to both Israel and the leadership of the Ministry of Defense.

It is noted that one of the advantages of the guided missile of the future Arrow 4 system is that it can be used with existing Arrow radars and launchers. This makes it a cost-effective solution.

According to Kohlhaus, the German Air Force will continue to purchase Patriot air defense systems and F-35 fighter jets from the United States. It is noted that NATO is currently unable to conduct joint air warfare without Link 16, IFF Mode 5, or a standardized data stream, the standards for which are set by the United States.

The deployed command posts of the German Air Force will be made more mobile. In addition, the new GIADS 5 and Sitaware management software will be introduced.

Since the Bundeswehr has ordered eight new Patriot systems, purchasing new American software for them is being considered. Kolhaus says a decision will be made no later than the end of this year. The Air Force is also requesting the rapid procurement of six more Iris-T SLM air defense systems in addition to the six ordered.

In early May, the German Air Force solemnly accepted the first component of the Israeli Arrow 3 missile defense system – a control center. The contract to purchase three such systems was signed on November 23, 2023. The deal is worth about 4 billion euros.

Arrow 4

Work on the development of a more advanced Arrow 4 began in 2021. The main contractor for the new project is Israel Aerospace Industries. The American company Boeing and the Israeli company Elbit Systems are also involved in the development.