BERLIN --- The €3 billion deal for the Israeli anti-missile system looks set to go ahead after German Chancellor Olaf Scholz met with US President Joe Biden last Friday.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was given approval in principle by US President Joe Biden last Friday to buy Israel's Arrow 3 anti-ballistic missile system during his visit to Washington, according to reports.
Germany has been waiting several months for a US decision on the procurement of the Arrow 3 system from Israel, which would be partially financed by the Americans. Germany had already made the decision to buy Israel's Arrow 3 anti-ballistic missile system for an estimated €3 billion as part of its new defense strategy following the war between Russia and Ukraine, and the need for protection from Russia's ballistic missiles.
Israel has already approved the sale in talks with the Germans and has been waiting for the US green light on the matter before closing final details regarding deployment, timetables and manufacturing the required interceptors as part of the deal.
The Arrow 3 will be deployed alongside its existing US terminal high altitude area defense system (THAAD) with capabilities to protect against ballistic missiles, including missiles with unconventional payloads. German plans that were published last year will now move ahead for the procurement of Green Pine missile defense radar systems and several interceptor stations that will provide protection for large parts of Central Europe.
Germany's plan for missile protection is called [European] Sky Shield [Initiative, ESSI, of which procurement of the Arrow 3 is only a part. The aim is to handle threats ranging from rockets to hypersonic missiles, such as those operated by Russia. The cost of the plan will be enormous. So far, 17 countries have joined Germany, including Sweden and Denmark just last month - and it will form a collective defense concept for large parts of Europe bordering Russia, the new-old threat in the region.
It is already clear that Germany, due to its excellent relations with Israel and the US, will be responsible for operating a large part of the Arrow 3 system, including radar systems and interceptors that will be stationed in various places around the country. (end of excerpt)
(Click here for the full story, on the Globes website.)
-ends-
