US approved next step in Israeli air defence sale

The United States have allowed Israel to share data and technical details of an air defence system with Germany in preparation for a possible sale, dpa learned from security sources in Berlin on Tuesday, reported dpa.

German plans to purchase Israel's Arrow 3 air defence system are thus one step further in proceeding, with the US approval of the release of sensitive data being considered a key step in the sale.

The US approval is needed as some of the system's components are supplied by the US.

The purchase of the Arrow 3 system is a central component of Germany's recent change in defence strategy in the face of a new security situation in Europe amid Russia's war on Ukraine.

The system is to be deployed to protect Germany's airspace and that of NATO allies in Europe.

Arrow 3 is designed to intercept ballistic missiles at extreme altitudes into the stratosphere, something which the German military currently cannot do.

Germany's Bundeswehr currently uses the US-made Patriot system that is effective to an altitude of around 30 kilometres.