Arrow 3 Missile Defence: Germany’s Kaufbeuren Site 2028

"Iron Dome" for Germany Arrow 3: Missile Defence System at the Kaufbeuren Site

2026-07-01 Source: dpa 2 min Reading Time

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Germany is to be better protected against missile attacks with its own defence system. One of the three locations is in southern Germany. However, it will take some time before the facility becomes operational.

Kaufbeuren will be one of three German sites for the Arrow 3 defence system, procured from Israel, to counter ballistic missiles. This was announced by Bavaria's Minister President, Markus Söder (CSU), during a visit to the Air Force’s Technical Training Centre in Kaufbeuren. "The Arrow system provides us with security now. It closes a central capability gap in our defence. We are talking about a state-of-the-art missile defence system. This site is one of three that support and strengthen the entire German system," he said.

"By locating the 'Radar Sensor South' of the Arrow weapon system in the greater Kaufbeuren area, we have jointly made a decision of strategic significance," said Lieutenant General Holger Neumann.

He noted that the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine had demonstrated that military threats have once again become a reality. "War is back in Europe. At the same time, we are observing an increasing proliferation and further development of ballistic missiles worldwide. Germany must react to this development, and we have done so." The new system enables early warning and is a purely defensive system.

Three sites planned for Arrow 3 in Germany

Last December, the Air Force operationalised the first of three planned Arrow sites in Germany at the Annaburger Heide military training area, located on the state border between Saxony-Anhalt and Brandenburg. In Kaufbeuren, however, it will be some time before the system is commissioned—the structural completion of the facility near the town is planned for 2028. The Bundeswehr has not disclosed the exact location for the modern radar installation, but the interceptor missiles are to be stationed at the nearby Lagerlechfeld Air Base.

The Arrow defence system is designed to destroy enemy missiles at altitudes of over 100 kilometres—a capability the Bundeswehr has lacked until now. Arrow 3 was jointly developed by Israel and the USA and has been in service in Israel since 2024.

Söder: "This will be the Iron Dome for Germany"

Söder emphasised that the Kaufbeuren site would significantly improve German security as a whole: "This will then be the Iron Dome for Germany and the country." Furthermore, the region is set to benefit massively from the new site—more than 80 million euros are to be invested here in the coming years.

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