Israel’s Defense Ministry said today it has secured a deal to sell a sophisticated anti-missile defense system to Germany for $3.5 billion, the Associated Press reports.
It also appears that the United States has approved it. This is the largest defense deal in Israel’s history.
Until now, the country has repeatedly rejected requests to sell weapons to Ukraine, so as not to antagonize Russia, with which it maintains working relations. Although Israel has long had close economic and military ties with Western European countries, the deal with Germany could attract Moscow’s attention.
Germany will buy the advanced Arrow 3 defense system, which is designed to intercept long-range ballistic missiles. Israel sought approval for the deal from the US State Department, as the system was developed jointly by the two countries.
“The American approval marks an important milestone in the strategic relationship between Israel and the United States,” Israeli defense spokesman Daniel Gold said in a statement. He adds that the system will expand Germany’s defense capability.
The sale still requires additional procedural steps from Israel and Germany, including approval by their parliaments, said Moshe Patel, director of the Israel Missile Defense Organization. According to him, the components of the missile system will be fully delivered to Germany by 2025, and the system should reach full capability by 2030.
Germany launched the “European Sky Shield Initiative” last year with 17 other nations, including Bulgaria, Britain and Sweden. This is a joint European air defense system.
Uzi Rubin, former director of Israel’s missile defense program, said the Arrow 3 could be moved to act as a shield for other European countries’ long-range ballistic missiles. He explained that this is the best defense available against the threat of ballistic missiles, but does not protect against cruise missiles or others flying at lower altitudes.
Although Israel has rejected requests to provide Ukraine with weapons, it has sent humanitarian aid.
Israel appears to be counting on the fact that this deal, as well as the sale of another anti-missile defense system to Finland, involves only defensive weapons – and will not disrupt its relationship with Russia.
“Relations are a little strained,” said Rubin, who is also an expert at the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security. “However, we do not supply Ukraine with any weapons. We do this because we want to maintain relations with Russia at an acceptable level,” he explained.
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2023-08-17 15:18:00
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