900 million euros for Holzdorf: Bundeswehr upgrades!

900 million euros for Holzdorf: Bundeswehr upgrades!

Holzdorf, Deutschland - In the past few weeks, a lot has moved at the Holzdorf air base. On May 16, Elbe-Elster district administrator Christian Jaschinski (CDU) visited the location, where investments of 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 provide for the installation of the advanced rocket defense system Arrow 3 that should play a key role for the air defense.

The investments on the air base not only bring up the military presence - currently around 2,200 soldiers are stationed there - but also economic impulses in the form of 1000 new posts and 100 additional jobs at Airbus Helicopters. Particularly noteworthy: The delivery of the Arrow 3 system from Israel has already started. The associated contract with a value of 3.6 billion euros was signed in November 2023. The money is financed from a special fund for the upgrade, which 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 cooperation with the USA, the system aims to intercept medium to long-range missiles that can even operate outside the earth's atmosphere. The development of this rocket defense system was properly supported, over $ 4.5 billion flowed from the USA. With the application height of up to 100 kilometers, Arrow 3 is able to use its interceptors through direct impact, a technique that minimizes the risk of rubber damage.

• range: up to 2400 kilometers
• interception heights: up to 100 kilometers
• technology: hit-to-kill (direct impact)

to classify: Moscow is around 1900 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 is the first of three locations for Arrow 3, with a complete willingness to commit it that is expected by 2030.

political dimensions

The plans for Holzdorf are not without controversy. Brandenburg's Prime Minister Dietmar Woidke (SPD) and Secretary of State Frank Stolper recently met with lieutenant colonel André Megow, the new commander of the Luftwaffe management service. However, the contents of the meeting were kept silent. It is interesting that the coalition of the SPD and BSW only has a narrow majority of two votes in the state parliament. Critical voices, such as the Sven Hornauf (BSW) Member of the State Parliament, expressed concerns about the support of the Arrow 3 system, but could not prevent a confession to the Bundeswehr location in the coalition agreement.

The expansion of the Holzdorf Bundeswehr site is considered the key project of the state government. The ongoing developments show that arms work between Israel and Germany has not only grown historically, but is also continuously expanded by strong political lobbying. Projects such as the Eurospike steering weapons system have already shown how close this cooperation is and mark a turning point in the German armaments sector.

The strategic cooperation between Israel and Germany not only bundles technical expertise, but also strengthens their joint security interest in a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape.