The customer is -, Israel's "largest defense order in history" Defense | Contract | Israel
According to the Associated Press on August 17th, the Israeli Ministry of Defense announced on August 17th that after obtaining approval from the United States, Israel has secured its largest defense contract in history and will sell its advanced missile defense system to Germany for $3.5 billion.
According to reports, Germany will purchase Israel's advanced Arrow-3 defense system for intercepting long-range ballistic missiles. Israel previously sought approval from the US State Department for the transaction, as the system was jointly developed by the two countries.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu called the deal "historic".
Netanyahu reviewed history in his statement. He pointed out that more than 70 years ago, "Jews were reduced to ashes in Nazi Germany"; More than 70 years later, the Jewish state provided Germany - another Germany - with a tool for self-defense.
He said, "What a historic turning point this is!"
Agence France Presse also confirmed that the United States has agreed to sell Israel's Arrow-3 missile defense system to Germany, and this $3.5 billion contract is known as Israel's "largest defense contract ever signed.".
The Arrow series missile defense system was developed and manufactured in collaboration between Israel Aerospace Industries and Boeing in the United States. The Arrow-3 is the highest level of this series, capable of intercepting missiles with a range of up to 2400 kilometers above the atmosphere.
According to reports, the Israeli Ministry of Defense stated in a statement, "The Israeli Ministry of Defense, the German Federal Ministry of Defense, and the Israeli Aerospace Industry Corporation will sign a historic defense agreement worth $3.5 billion, which is the largest defense agreement ever signed by Israel."
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said in Berlin, "This supply project is crucial for protecting Germany from ballistic missile attacks in the future."
He added on his X homepage that the system "will protect the skies of Europe, and our goal is to incorporate it into NATO's defense system.".
According to reports, in October this year, Berlin launched the "European Sky Shield" initiative, which is based on Germany's IRIS-T system, the United States' Patriot system, and Israel's Arrow-3 system.
The plan has received support from at least 17 countries so far.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoyaf Galant called this "the most important defense contract in Israeli history" and "will help strengthen Israel and its economy.".
Galant pointed out that after approval by the German and Israeli parliaments, the final contract will be signed by the end of 2023 and is expected to be delivered by the end of 2025.
Moses Patel, the head of the Israel Missile Defense Organization, said that Israel Aerospace Industries will establish new infrastructure for the German project and recruit new engineers and employees in Israel and the United States.
He told reporters, "The German government wants the system to be exactly the same as what we are using."