Germany Approves Funds for Israeli Arrow-3 Missiles
Germany’s parliament and budget committee reportedly gave the green light to release advance payments of up to €560M ($607M) on Wednesday for a planned purchase of Israel’s Arrow-3 air defense system in a deal valued at nearly €4B ($4.3B)....
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Facts
- Germany’s parliament and budget committee reportedly gave the green light to release advance payments of up to €560M ($607M) on Wednesday for a planned purchase of Israel’s Arrow-3 air defense system in a deal valued at nearly €4B ($4.3B).1
- Israeli manufacturer Israeli Aerospace Industries says the system is designed to shoot down missiles above the Earth's atmosphere from up to 2.4K km (1,490 miles) away. It will reportedly be able to shield other EU nations.2
- The system was first used at a military base in Israel in 2017 and was created to protect Israel amid its conflict with Iran and Syria.3
- Germany will finance the purchase of new military equipment by using funds from a €100B defense fund announced by Chancellor Olaf Scholz amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict.4
- Berlin aims to finalize the deal with Israel by December, according to procurement documents drawn up for parliament, with deliveries expected in Q4 of 2025. If it doesn't go through, Germany will lose part or all of its advance payments, according to the papers.5
- Before the Arrow-3 deal can be signed, however, it requires approval from the US government. While US Pres. Joe Biden reportedly approved the deal in March, there has yet to be an official announcement.6
Sources: 1Al Jazeera, 2The Times of Israel, 3Arab News, 4Barrons, 5US News & World Report and 6Israel Defense.
Narratives
- Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by POLITICO. Following Russia’s war on Ukraine, it has become obvious to the West, and Europe in particular, that it must modernize its military defenses. With the acquisition of the Israeli Arrow-3 system and the purchase of the German IRIS-T SLM system — which was also approved Wednesday — Germany is securing an Iron Dome-style air defense system that will help build up a protective umbrella to defend its neighbors as well.
- Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by Middle East Monitor. The purchase of the Arrow-3 anti-missile system is nothing more than wasteful government spending. The nation's eagerness to burn almost €4B — €1B more than originally estimated — reveals its distorted sense of priorities and a blatant waste of taxpayers' hard-earned money. By indulging in such a costly acquisition, Germany is neglecting other key areas, such as social programs, economic development, and infrastructure.
