EU Bolsters Air and Space Defense Ties With Israel Amid Shifting Alliances

Rafael Advanced Defense Systems announced it will establish a production facility for its Iron Dome missile defense system in Germany, at a former Volkswagen plant. This development follows closely on the heels of Greece signing a 3 billion euro deal with Israel's Ministry of Defense to build a multi-layered air defense network.

These moves signal a broader trend of strengthening cooperation between the European Union and Israel in air defense and space capabilities. This renewed partnership comes after a period of reduced military ties due to the Gaza war, but is now driven by competition with the United States and strategic challenges posed by Russia and China.

The deepening connection was highlighted by the recent visit of Israel Space Agency Director-General Shmrit Maman to Brussels. She met with EU Commissioner for Startups, Research, and Innovation, Ylva Johansson, to discuss artificial intelligence, robotics, and space technologies.

Maman cautioned that the militarization of space is already underway, often unnoticed, and noted Israel's observation of increased interest from allies in dual-use technologies. She emphasized the importance of early warning systems, referencing Israel's experience with Iran's missile attack, and stated that Israel is developing a large-scale public early warning system. This initiative involves collaboration in satellite imagery and AI data modeling, which can also be applied to managing natural disasters like fires, floods, and droughts.