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900 million euros for Holzdorf: Bundeswehr is arming!
Elbe-Elster is investing 900 million euros in the Holzdorf air base, with new helicopters and the Arrow 3 missile defense system.
900 million euros for Holzdorf: Bundeswehr is arming!
A lot has happened at Holzdorf Air Base in the last few weeks. On May 16th, Elbe-Elster District Administrator Christian Jaschinski (CDU) visited the site, where investments worth a whopping 900 million euros are planned in the coming years. These expenses are part of a comprehensive upgrade of the Bundeswehr, which also includes the stationing of 47 new transport helicopters from 2027. The plans also include the installation of the advanced missile defense system Arrow3 which is intended to play a key role in Germany's air defense.
The investments at the air base not only result in an increase in the military presence - around 2,200 soldiers are currently stationed there - but also economic stimulus in the form of 1,000 new positions and 100 additional jobs at Airbus Helicopters. Particularly noteworthy: the delivery of the Arrow3 system from Israel has already started. The associated contract, worth 3.6 billion euros, was signed in November 2023. The money is financed from a special fund for rearmament that was set up as a result of the Russian attack on Ukraine.
Technology and reach
What makes the Arrow 3 system so special? Developed by Israel in collaboration with the US, the system aims to intercept medium to long-range missiles that can even operate outside Earth's atmosphere. The development of this missile defense system received considerable support, with over $4.5 billion flowing into it from the USA. Operating at altitudes of up to 100 kilometers, Arrow 3 is capable of deploying its interceptor missiles through direct impact, a technique that minimizes the risk of debris damage.
- Reichweite: bis zu 2400 Kilometer
- Abfanghöhen: bis zu 100 Kilometer
- Technologie: Hit-to-Kill (direkter Aufprall)
To put it into perspective: Moscow is around 1,900 kilometers away from Holzdorf. This makes the system a strategic element, not only for Germany's air defense, but also for the entire region. Holzdorf will be the first of three locations selected for Arrow 3, with full operational readiness expected by 2030.
Political dimensions
The plans for Holzdorf are not without controversy. Brandenburg's Prime Minister Dietmar Woidke (SPD) and Interior State Secretary Frank Stolper recently met with Lieutenant Colonel André Megow, the new commander of the Air Force's command service. However, the contents of the meeting were kept confidential. It is interesting that the coalition of SPD and BSW only has a narrow majority of two votes in the state parliament. Critical voices, such as that of state parliament member Sven Hornauf (BSW), expressed concerns about supporting the Arrow 3 system, but were unable to prevent a commitment to the Bundeswehr location from being anchored in the coalition agreement.
The expansion of the Bundeswehr base in Holzdorf is viewed as a key project by the state government. Current developments show that arms cooperation between Israel and Germany has not only grown historically, but is also continually expanding through strong political lobbying. Projects such as the EuroSpike guided missile system have already shown how close this cooperation is and mark a turning point in the German defense sector.
The strategic cooperation between Israel and Germany not only combines technical expertise, but also strengthens their common security interests in a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape.