German Navy Test-Fires Israeli Ballistic Missile at Sea

German Navy Test-Fires Israeli Ballistic Missile at Sea

The News

The German Navy successfully test-fired an Israeli-made ballistic missile at sea and says it will move forward with buying the weapon.

The trial of Israel Aerospace Industries' Naval Lora missile was completed Tuesday night as part of the German Navy's Operational Experimentation program, the Jerusalem Post reported. The Times of Israel reported the missile was launched from a German frigate in the North Atlantic.

Reuters, reporting the test Wednesday, said German officials confirmed it was successful. Reuters' German-language service described it as the first time the Bundeswehr has tested a ballistic missile.

The missile "was launched to its trajectory, navigated its course to the target, and hit it with utmost precision," IAI said in a press release.

Timeline

Tuesday night, Sept. 1

The German Navy completes a dual trial launch of the Naval Lora as part of its Operational Experimentation (OPEX) effort.

Wednesday, Sept. 2

Reuters reports German officials confirming the successful test; IAI and the German naval command publicly hail the result, and Berlin signals it will proceed with procurement.

Same day

The Israeli Navy's sixth purchased Dolphin 2-class submarine, the Drakon, departs Germany for Haifa, the Times of Israel reported.

Reactions

German naval chief Vice-Admiral Jan Christian Kaack said the successful launch "made naval history." He added: "I am extremely pleased with this achievement."

Kaack described the missile's potential range as exceeding "anything we have known before," and said: "For the protection of Germany and our allies, this test represents a new chapter in terms of deterrence and defense readiness at sea."

IAI Chairman Boaz Levy called it "an unprecedented achievement for IAI and the Israeli Ministry of Defense." He said the trial "demonstrates Israel's technological strength and the unique cooperation between Israel and Germany," and marks "another significant achievement alongside the deployment of the Arrow 3 system on German soil."

IAI CEO Guy Bar Lev said the trial "underscored" the strategic cooperation between the two countries.

What's Next

The German Navy will move forward with procurement of the missile, according to the Times of Israel. Neither the quantity nor the cost of any purchase has been reported by the sources covering the test.

More

The Naval Lora test is the latest step in a deepening defense relationship between Berlin and Jerusalem. Germany has already deployed Israel's Arrow 3 long-range missile defense system on its soil, and Israel has bought Dolphin-class submarines built in Germany — the sixth of which, the Drakon, is now on its way to Haifa.

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