Germany puts ballistic missile defence shield into service

Germany puts ballistic missile defence shield into service

Germany's military put into service Wednesday the first part of a roughly $4 billion ballistic missile defence system, to better protect Europe at a time of high tensions with Russia.

The Israeli-made Arrow system, developed with support from the United States, will form part of the broader European Sky Shield effort launched in the wake of Russia's 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which raised alarm over possible gaps in NATO's European air defences.

"For the first time, we are gaining the capability for early warning and defence against long-range ballistic missiles for our population and infrastructure," said Defence Minister Boris Pistorius.

"We are strengthening the European pillar of NATO and fulfilling a NATO plannin