Germany has begun operating the first components of the new missile defense system “Arrow 3” on Wednesday, with Defense Minister Boris Pistorius stating that the country’s and its partners’ air defense has been significantly reinforced.
“For the first time, we gain the capability of early warning and protecting our population and infrastructure from long-range ballistic missiles,” Pistorius said in Berlin.
Developed jointly by Israel and the United States, the “Arrow 3” system can destroy hostile missiles outside the Earth’s atmosphere with direct hits, forming the upper layer of any defense system.
“With this, we strengthen NATO’s European pillar and fulfill a strategic objective of the alliance,” Pistorius added.
The deployment of the system, purchased earlier from Israel, comes in response to the Russian threat. Its operation at the Schönewalde/Holzdorf air base in Brandenburg marks the first of three planned sites for “Arrow” in Germany.
Sources - Agencies
