Introduction
Germany and Israel hold close diplomatic and economic ties, with Germany being one of Israel’s most important military and security partners in the EU.
Israel is one of the five most important military exporters for Germany[1]Stockholm International Peace Research Institute as well as Germany’s second most important trade partner in the Middle East (after Saudi Arabia).[2]Ministry of Economy Israel : Economic Review 2014 Germany. Israel has provided Germany with anti-tank missiles, drones, military radars and more. In November 2023 Israel’s largest ever defense contract worth €3.6 billion was signed to supply Germany with Arrow-3 air-defense system.[3]Breaking Defense, Israel finalizes Arrow 3 deal with Germany, aims for late 2025 delivery, 27.11.23 Since then Germany has signed more contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars to purchase arms from Israel. In 2025 alone, the German military purchased Israeli weapons in €315 million, and placed additional orders worth several billions.[4]Haaretz, Germany buys Rafael Spike missiles for two billion euros, 21.10.2025 This some does not include the latest $3.1 billion arrow-3 deal.[5]Globes, Germany approves $3.1b follow-on Arrow 3 deal, 17.12.2025
In 2023, around 30% of Israel’s military equipment purchases came from Germany, totaling €326.5m.[6]ICJ rules it will not halt German arms to Israel. Germany granted export licences for military equipment to Israel worth €485m between 7 October 2023 and 13 May 2025. In August 2025, Germany announced it will halt export to Israel of arms that could be used in Gaza.[7]The Guardian, Germany halts export to Israel of arms that could be used in Gaza as global outcry grows, 08.08.2025 But in November 2025, after ceasefire was declared, resumed arms exports to Israel.[8]BBC, Germany to resume arms exports to Israel after ceasefire, 17.11.2025
Israel – Germany Relations
Between 2016-2018, Germany was Israel’s most important economic partner in the European Union (fourth worldwide)[9]Tel Aviv Deutsche Botschaft : Deutsch-israelische Beziehungen, with bilateral trade worth $7.19 billion (2018).[10]Federal Foreign Office : Germany and Israel: Bilateral relations. The main Israeli export to Germany (worth around $1.52 billion in 2016) is of chemical, electro-technological, mechanical and optical products.[11]Tel Aviv Deutsche Botschaft : Deutsch-israelische Beziehungen
In September 2022, Israel and Germany held first-ever Strategic Dialogue in Jerusalem, Israel. The meeting was presided over by the national security advisors and directors-general of the foreign ministries of Germany and Israel. Also taking part were the director-general of the Israeli Ministry of Defense, the Director of the Mossad, the Director of the Israeli Security Agency (Shin Bet), and their German counterparts.[12]Israel, Germany hold first-ever Strategic Dialogue in Jerusalem
At the same time, the Director General of Israel’s Ministry of Defense, Major General (ret.) Amir Eshel, met with the State Secretary of the German Federal Ministry of Defense, Mr. Benedikt Zimmer, as part of the intensifying military relations between the defense ministries of the two countries. Head of the Directorate of Defense Research & Development (DDR&D) at the IMOD, Brigadier General (res.) Dr. Daniel Gold, also participated in the meeting, where future collaborations in the fields of R&D were discussed.[13]Israel, Germany hold first-ever Strategic Dialogue in Jerusalem
Military Relations
Israel and Germany have maintained close defense ties for decades, with Germany becoming one of Israel’s most important sources of military equipment. Germany continued approving and supplying arms to Israel after the October 7, 2023 attacks, even as other European governments moved to restrict or suspend arms transfers. In the latest SIPRI figures, Germany accounted for 31% of Israel’s major arms imports between 2021 and 2025, making it Israel’s second-largest supplier after the United States with 68%.[14]SIPRI, SIPRI Yearbook 2026, Chapter 7 – International arms transfers The two countries have also significantly expanded their cooperation around missile defense: Germany signed a roughly $3.5 billion deal to acquire Israel’s Arrow 3 system in 2023,[15]Breaking Defense, Israel finalizes Arrow 3 deal with Germany, aims for late 2025 delivery, 27.11.23 followed by an additional agreement worth about $3.1 billion in 2025.[16]Globes, Germany approves $3.1b follow-on Arrow 3 deal, 17.12.2025 Alongside these purchases, German and Israeli defense companies are expanding cooperation in the production, development and marketing of weapons systems, including efforts to bring Israeli-made technologies to European defense markets. The main joint ventures are listed in the next section.
Below are notable milestones in Israel-Germany military relations. For more details see deal list.
1984 – 2014: 254 German soldiers and officers have participated in different training and education programs of the Israeli Army.[17]BpB : Israels Sicherheit als deutsche Staatsräson/
2014: A report by the Israeli Trade Office in Germany shows that the military arms company Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) was the biggest Israeli exporter to Germany.[18]Ministry of Economy Israel : Economic Review 2014 Germany
2018: Israel signs a trade-deal of around €1 billion for a leasing contract of five Heron-TP drones, with the intention of using them in Afghanistan. The deal included the training of German drone-operators in Israel by the Israeli military. The deal was widely criticized by the German public.[19]Globes, Germany to lease Israel Aerospace UAVs for €1b – report, 08.04.2018
June 2019: Elbit Systems was awarded a $73 million contract to supply J-MUSIC DIRCM Systems for the German Air Forces’ Airbus A400M aircraft.[20]Elbit Systems, Elbit Systems Awarded $73 Million Contract to Supply J-MUSIC DIRCM Systems for the German Air Force, 19.06.2019
January 2020: Rafael supplied Fire Weaver and BNET systems for a German military battlefield technology study for Germany’s Federal Ministry of Defense, led by the company Atos.[21]JNS, Israel’s Rafael uses augmented reality, artificial intelligence to revolutionize urban-warfare capabilities, 30.01.2020
October 2020: Elbit Systems rebrands its subsidiary in Ulm as Elbit Systems Deutschland.[22]Elbit Systems, Elbit Systems Consolidates Operations in Germany, Rebrands TELEFUNKEN RACOMS as Elbit Systems Deutschland, 1.10.2020
December 2020: The German Parliament decides to deny the armament of the Heron TP drones.[23]Why Germany’s Soldiers Are Denied Armed Drones
March 2021: Germany selects Elbit Systems to provide the German Federal Police with “XACT nv33” night vision goggles.[24]Germany selects Israel’s Elbit Systems to provide police with night vision systems
June 2021: Germany’s defense procurement agency announces that it has acquired 69 “ELM-2180 Watchguard” mobile ground surveillance radars made by Israel Aerospace Industries subsidiary ELTA for $36m through the German company ESG. Training courses, training materials and an unspecified initial amount of spare parts are also part of the agreement.[25]ELTA to supply ground surveillance radar systems to German Army
October 2021: Robots by the Israeli company Roboteam took part in field tests conducted by the German Federal Military Procurement Manager (BAAINBw) and the office of German Army Development under the title “Unmanned Ground Vehicles to support dismounted forces”.[26]Israel Defense, Roboteam’s Probot participates in German military’s field tests, 18.10.2021
2021: The German army purchased Spike anti-tank missiles in €88m.[27]SIPRI This deal follows previous deals signed in 2019 and 2017 worth €200m and €158m accordingly.[28]Israel Defense, Germany Orders 1,000 Spike LR Missiles from Rafael, 30.03.2017[29]Globes, Rafael inks €200m German missile deal, 18.11.20192022: The Defense Committee of the Bundestag approves the purchase of 140 armed Heron TP drones. The Ministry of Defense plans to use 60 of them for training and the other 80 for “operational use,” according to the project adopted by the commission. The total amount of the order is $166 million. The drones should be delivered within two years.[30]Germany acquires 140 Israeli-made armed drones
May 2023: The German Army procures SMASHx4 fire control systems, by Israeli company Smart Shooter, for its G27P assault rifles.[31]Israel Defense, German Army procures Israeli SMARTSHOOTER’s SMASH X4 systems for infantry anti-drone capability, 31.05.2023
November 2023: Israel requests 10,000 120-millimeter precision rounds (tank shells) from German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall to replenish ammunition used in Gaza. While it is unclear whether the request has been fulfilled since, it has been reported that Germany was considering supplying the ammunition from the state’s military stocks, which would be faster than supplying it through industry.[32]Inder Singh Bisht, Germany likely to send tank ammo to Israel, 18.1.24
November 2023: German and Israeli Ministries of Defense sign Israel’s largest ever defense contract worth €3.6 billion, in which the Arrow 3 anti-missile defense system is sold to Germany. The system is expected to be delivered by the end of 2025. [33]Breaking Defense, Israel finalizes Arrow 3 deal with Germany, aims for late 2025 delivery, 27.11.23
2023: German exports of military weapons to Israel in 2023 total €326.5 million (ten times the amount of exports in 2022), which include, among others, 3000 portable anti-tank weapons, 500,000 rounds of firearm ammunitions, 239 detonators and 44 propellant charges.[34]ZDF, Deutsche Waffen für 20 Millionen an Israel, 17.1.24 The majority of the exports (185 out of 218 individual export deals) are approved following the attacks on October 7th[35]Gregor Link, German arms exports, including to Europe, Israel and Ukraine, at record levels, 8.1.24, with the Ministry of Economic Affairs announcing in November that applications for exports to Israel would be prioritized.
May 2024: The German Heron drone, produced in collaboration between the Israeli Ministry of Defense and IAI based on the agreement signed in 2018, flies in Germany for the first time.[36]Global Defense & Aerospace Post, German Heron TP makes first flight, 17.5.2024
July 2024: Commander of the German Fleet and Vice Chief of the German Navy Vice Admiral Jan Christian Kaack visits Israel and meets Israel Navy Commander David Saar Salama. The two discuss future naval technology, including naval submarines; according to an Army Recognition article, the discussion is likely to have centered the BlueWhale, a collaboration between Israel’s Elta Systems and Germany’s Atlas Elektronik.[37]ArmyRecognition.com, German Navy chief visits Israel to discuss underwater drone technologies, 22.7.2024
September 2024: Elbit Systems and German weapon manufacturer Diehl Defense announced the signing of a cooperation agreement focused on supplying rocket artillery ammunition for the PULS and EuroPULS rocket launchers, also produced by Elbit.[38]Eyal Bugoslavsky, Elbit Systems and Diehl Defense Forge Partnership for Advanced Rocket Artillery Solutions, 26.9.2024
December 2024: Elbit was awarded a contract to equip the German government’s Airbus A350 with the J-MUSIC™ Directed Infrared Countermeasures (DIRCM) self-protection systems.[39]The Jerusalem Post, Elbit Systems to protect Germany’s official government aircraft, 24.12.2024[40]Reuters, Germany to install missile defence systems on new government jets, Spiegel reports, 20.09.2024
December 2024: KNDS Germany has ordered 123 Trophy Active Protection Systems (APS) for the German Army’s Leopard 2 A8 main battle tanks. This deal follows a previous order of Trophy APS for the German army’s Leopard 2 A7A1 main battle tanks.[41]Israel Defense, Germany Orders Trophy APS for Leopard 2 A8 Tanks, Expands Active Protection Adoption, 10.12.2024
February 2025: Elbit was awarded a contract valued at $57 million to supply its PULS Rocket Launcher Artillery Systems to the German Armed Forces.[42]Elbit Systems, Germany Selects PULS Rocket Launcher Artillery System for its Armed Forces, 06.02.2025
July 2025: Elbit Systems was awarded a $260 million contract to supply the German Air Force with its Directed Infrared Countermeasure (DIRCM) systems, to be used by Germany’s fleet of A400M transport aircraft.[43]Haaretz, Israel’s Elbit Systems Lands $260 Million Deal to Equip German Air Force Planes, 28.07.2025
August 2025: The German Parliament authorized the procurement of 90 Litening 5 targeting pods by Rafael in a deal worth over €350 million. The targeting pods are intended for the Eurofighter Typhoon fleet.[44]Rafael, Germany Approves Litening 5 Targeting Pods for Eurofighter Fleet, 26.08.2025[45]Calcalist, Despite the embargo: Rafael will supply Germany with aircraft surveillance systems worth over 350 million euros, 26.08.2025
September 2025: Germany is in the process to acquire 3 additional Heron surveillance drones from Israeli Aerospace Industries in a €1 billion deal.[46]Bloomberg, German Lawmakers Approve €1 Billion Purchase of Israeli Drones, 10.09.2025
October 2025: Germany signed a deal to acquire additional Spike missiles worth €2 billion. The missiles were designed by the Israeli governmental-owned company Rafael and produce by the joint venture EuroSpike.[47]Overt Defense, Germany Will Procure €2 Billion-worth of Spike Anti-Tank Missiles, 30.10.2025
Germany awarded a framework contract to Flensburg Technology Systems to supply up to 200 light airborne combat and support vehicles for its special forces units. Flensburg Technology Systems is a subsidiary of FFG Flensburger Fahrzeugbau Gesellschaft and Israel Aerospace Industries. The initial order consists of 40 combat and 14 support vehicles worth arouns €30 million. The vehicles are based on the IAI/ELTA Z family of all‑terrain platforms, primarily the ZD version.[48]Israeli Defense, Germany’s Special Forces to Receive IAI/ELTA Built Light Combat Vehicles, 12.10.2025[49]The Defense Post, Germany Procures Light Airborne Vehicles for Elite Forces, 27.10.2025
According to an official answer by the German government to a parliamentary question, in 2025 alone, the German military purchased Israeli weapons in €315 million. This sum does not include the last deals signed.[50]Haaretz, Germany buys Rafael Spike missiles for two billion euros, 21.10.2025 In the end of 2025 Germany approved a follow-up deal for Arrow-3 missiles worth about $3.1 billion.[51]Globes, Germany approves $3.1b follow-on Arrow 3 deal, 17.12.2025
January 2026: Israel and Germany signed agreement to expand cooperation on counterterrorism and cyber defense. The collaboration includes the development of a joint “cyber dome” system, an artificial intelligence and cyber innovation center, drone defense cooperation, and improved civilian warning systems.[52]Reuters, German-Israel deal strengthens cyber defence, German minister says, 14.01.2026[53]The Times of Israel, Israel, Germany agree to boost counterterrorism cooperation amid threat from Iran, 12.01.2026
February 2026: Israel Aerospace Industries and TKMS delivered the BlueWhale autonomous submarine system to Germany.[54]Defence Network, BlueWhale: IAI und TKMS liefern Unterwasserfahrzeug an deutsche Marine, 25.02.2026[55]Ynet, Germany receives Israeli-made BlueWhale autonomous submarine system, 25.02.2026
September 2026: The Israeli company Camero-Tech, a subsidiary of SK Group, won a tender to supply Xaver imaging systems to the German Ministry of the Interior. The tender indicates that the systems are intended for search and rescue operations.[56]Israel Defense, Camero-Tech Wins German Tender for Sense-Through-the-Wall Systems, 22.09.2026
Joint Arms Production and Marketing
In recent years, German-Israeli defense cooperation has increasingly expanded beyond traditional government-to-government (G2G) procurement toward joint ventures, industrial partnerships, and local production in Germany. While major G2G programs remain an important pillar of the relationship, all three major Israeli defense primes, IAI, Elbit Systems, and Rafael, and leading German companies including Diehl, TKMS, Rheinmetall, KNDS, MBDA Deutschland, and Reflex now maintain formal industrial collaborations. The shift has been driven by several factors, including Germany’s rearmament and increased defense spending, European efforts to strengthen defense-industrial sovereignty and production capacity, the lessons of the war in Ukraine, and growing political and export restrictions on Israeli defense exports in parts of Europe.[57]European Security and Defence, Israeli Defence Cooperation With Germany, 22.07.2026 The German production allows countries like Spain and Slovenia, who declared a two-way arms embargo on Israel, to continue buying Israeli Spike missiles.[58]Investigate, Rheinmetall AG, May 2026
German-Israeli military joint ventures:
- EuroSpike: Eurospike is a German-based joint venture between the Israeli state-owned Rafael and the German companies Diehl, and Rheinmetall, formed to produce and market the Israeli developed Spike anti-tank missiles in Europe.[59]EuroSpike
- EuroTrophy: EuroTrophy is a German-based joint venture consisting of Rafael, KNDS Deutschland and General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) that was established in 2022 to market, sell and integrate the Trophy system for the European market.[60]KNDS, EuroTrophy GmbH a new German-based company for Trophy APS is established, 29.03.2022
- EuroPuls: EuroPuls is a German-based joint venture between Elbit and KNDS Deutschland established in March 2026 to supply rocket artillery systems to European militaries, based on Elbit’s PULS rocket launcher system.[61]Ynet, KNDS, Elbit form joint venture to supply rocket artillery systems to European armies, 28.03.2026 A year before, the PULS system won Germany’s tender for artillery system.[62]Globes, Elbit wins German army PULS artillery system tender – report, 07.01.2025
- Iron Dome parts: During 2026 Rafael negotiated with Volkswagen and the government of Lower Saxony to convert the Osnabrück factory into production site of Iron Dome parts.[63]Globes, German Iron Dome parts production to begin in 2027 – report, 06.09.2026
- SkyStriker: In June 2026 Elbit and Diehl Defence formed a new strategic partnership to market the SkyStriker loitering munition, developed by Elbit, to the German Armed Forces.[64]Breaking Defense, Israel’s Elbit Systems, Germany’s Diehl Defence team on SkyStriker pitch for Berlin, 12.06.2026 The two companies had a previous cooperation agreement to equiping the German Armed Forces aircraft with a DIRCM protection system.[65]EDR, Diehl and Elbit Systems continue successful cooperation for DIRCM protection system, 29.07.2022[66]Forensis, German Arms Exports to Israel – Appendix A: German Arms Manufacturing Industry and Connections to Israel, 02.04.2024
- IAI production site in Berlin: In June 2026 IAI and the State of Berlin signed an agreement to establish an aerospace and defence innovation centre and expand local production.[67]Euractiv, Berlin and Israeli defence giant IAI to create innovation hub, 12.06.2026[68]Defence Industry Europe, IAI and State of Berlin sign agreement to establish aerospace and defence innovation centre and expand local production, 12.06.2026
- Elbit and Rheinmetall: the two companies have several joint projects. Rheinmetall Canada has an agreement with Elbit Systems from 2022 to bid jointly on Canada’s Joint Fire Modernization project. This would incorporate Elbit’s Torch system, which it originally developed for the Israeli military. The Canadian government has not awarded this contract yet.[69]Investigate, Rheinmetall AG, May 2026 The two companies also teamed up for the Canadian Night Vision System Modernization (NVSM) project,[70]Rheinmetall, Rheinmetall at CANSEC 2022: presenting a comprehensive array of products for operational superiority, 01.06.2022 and the Satellite Communication on the Move (SOTM) system, in which they supply the Canadian Armed Forces with the Vehicular Subsystem (VSS) capability.[71]Rheinmetall, Rheinmetall Presents State-of-the-art defence solutions at CANSEC 2023, 31.05.2023 Another agreement was signed between both companies in 2022 to develop, manufacture and market an automated European 155mm wheeled self-propelled howitzer system. In March 2023 they conducted a live fire demonstration that was attended by officials of the armed forces of the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands and Hungary.[72]Rheinmetall, Rheinmetall and Elbit Systems carry out live fire demonstration of wheeled self-propelled howitzer, 16.05.2023
- Elbit and ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS): In May 2026 TKMS and Elbit Systems signed a Memorandum of Understanding for joint naval defense development.[73]TKMS, TKMS and Elbit Systems Expand their Collaboration on the Development of Defense Solutions, 18.05.26
- BlueWhale: Israel Aerospace Industries and TKMS formed a partnership to integrate the BlueWhale autonomous submarine system, developed by IAI, for the German Navy.[74]Defence Network, BlueWhale: IAI und TKMS liefern Unterwasserfahrzeug an deutsche Marine, 25.02.2026[75]Ynet, Germany receives Israeli-made BlueWhale autonomous submarine system, 25.02.2026
- TKMS and VSense Technologies: TKMS’ subsidiary Atlas Elektronik invests millions of euros in the Israeli VSense Technologies as part of industrial cooperation plan and will enable the Israeli company to develop production, maintenance, inspection, and repair capabilities for equipment installed on Israeli navy submarines.[76]Calcalist Tech, ThyssenKrupp to invest millions of euros in Israel’s Vsense Technologies, 28.12.2022[77]Forensis, German Arms Exports to Israel – Appendix A: German Arms Manufacturing Industry and Connections to Israel, 02.04.2024
- Satellite program: Rafael and Reflex Aerospace announced a strategic partnership at ILA Berlin 2026 for a joint ultra-high-resolution satellite programme.[78]Militar Aktuell, Rafael and Reflex Aerospace Agree to Collaborate, 15.06.2026[79]European Security and Defence, Israeli Defence Cooperation With Germany, 22.07.2026
- European production and assembly of HERO: Rheinmetall and UVision collaborate on producing UVision’s HERO “loitering munitions” drones for the European market. As of 2025, eight countries in Europe have ordered at least one of the three HERO variants. Rheinmetall markets these drones as “based on extensive field experience and tested in combat,” referring to Israel’s use of these drones in Gaza and elsewhere.[80]Investigate, Rheinmetall AG, May 2026
- Collaborations between Rheinmetall and IAI: Rheinmetall Canada provided the Canadian military with the radar system originally developed by IAI for the Israeli Iron Dome missile defense system. The two companies later sold this system to Hungary and hope to expand to additional NATO clients.[81]Investigate, Rheinmetall AG, May 2026 Another collaboration between the companies was to provide the German military with a joint system that combines the Rheinmetall KZO drone with the IAI Harop “loitering munition” drone into a networked reconnaissance-attack system. The combined system was tested successfully but the German government ultimately decided against acquiring it.[82]Investigate, Rheinmetall AG, May 2026[83]Israel Defense, In Development: An Israeli-German Ballistic Weapons System, 20.02.2015
- Harop: After its joint offer with Rheinmetall was declined, in 2023 IAI teamed up with MBDA Deutschland in another attempt to market the Harop “loitering munition” drone to Germany.[84]Defence Industry Europe, MBDA Deutschland and IAI to jointly offer loitering munition to Bundeswehr, 12.07.2023
- Collaboration between Volkswagen and Rafael: In May 2026 it was reported an agreement had been made between Volkswagen and Rafael to set up a joint venture for the production of trucks and other parts for the Iron Dome system.[85]Globes, Rafael and VW agree deal to produce Iron Dome parts – report, 13.05.2026 It was later reported in July 2026 that the plan may be cancelled due to Volkswagen’s Qatari shareholders vetoing the partnership,[86]Calcalist, Qatar blocks Volkswagen’s Iron Dome deal with Rafael as German plant faces closure, 12.07.2026 while other sources were optimistic the project will succeed despite reservations from Qatar.[87]The Times of Israel, German state encouraging Israel’s Rafael to establish operations at Volkswagen plant, 17.07.2026
- IAI and Hensoldt: In December 2020 IAI signs a joint strategic cooperation agreement with the German company Hensoldt to jointly manufacture radar systems for ballistic missile defense and participate in air and space surveillance projects. They would produce a long-range radar for use on the F124 Frigates of the German Navy.[88]Israel Aerospace Industries and HENSOLDT offer Radar Systems against ballistic Missiles to Germany
- Flensburg Technology Systems: A joint venture formed between IAI and FFG Flensburger Fahrzeugbau Gesellschaft to produce the TAHR light airborne combat vehicle. In October 2025 the company was awarded a framework contract by Germany to supply up to 200 light airborne combat and support vehicles for special forces units, with first vehicle supplied in September 2026.[89]Defence Blog, Germany’s special forces get their first new TAHR vehicle, 16.09.2026[90]The Jerusalem Post, IAI debuts new tactical vehicle for German special forces, 16.09.2026
- Spice 250 ER: In June 2023, Rafael entered a partnership with the German companies Diehl Defence and HENSOLDT Sensors to provide solutions to the German Air Force, focused on the SPICE 250 ER (Extended Range) system, developed by Rafael.[91]Hensoldt, RAFAEL, Diehl Defence, and HENSOLDT announce Teaming Agreement for SPICE 250 ER System during Paris Air Show in Le Bourget, 20.06.2023
- ECM system for naval vessels: Another cooperation between Rafael and Hensoldt formed in 2023 to co-develop an electronic countermeasures (ECM) system for naval vessels based on Hensoldt’s Digital Shark ECM system and a decoy system (C-GEM) from Rafael.[92]Hensoldt, HENSOLDT develops jamming system to protect naval vessels together with Israeli partner RAFAEL, 27.11.2023
- Marketing of Aero-Sentinel’s drone: The Israeli company Aero-Sentinel finalized a partnership with German firm 2LNK GmbH to distribute its operational drone platforms in Kazakhstan.[93]Defence Blog, Israeli drone firm expands into Kazakhstan, 01.02.2026
- Onberg Autonomous Systems: In April 2026, Onberg was founded as a joint venture between the American-Israeli company Ondas Autonomous Systems and HD Advanced Technologies (HDAT), a subsidiary of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg). The new joint venture is described as “an integrated one-stop store for drone defense: from development and system integration to industrial series production”.[94]Militar Aktuell, Onberg: Starting signal for automated drone defense, 22.04.2026
German Arms Fairs with Israeli participation[95]Omega research foundation : Arms Fairs Database
- ILA Berlin Airshow – Israeli companies are regular participants as well as the Israeli Ministry of Defense. More than 10 companies participated in 2026, 2024, 2022, 2018 and before.
- Enforce Tac, trade fair for security and defense in Nuremberg – 38 Israeli companies participated in 2026.[96]Enforce Tac
- DSEI Germany- at least 17 Israeli companies are intended to participate in 2027.[97]DSEI Germany
- Space Tech Expo Europe 2026 – will take place in November 2026 with planned participation of IAI, Elbit, Rafael, and Israeli governmental presence.[98]Space Tech Expo Europe
- European Police Congress – NSO Group participated in 2020.
- GPEC (General Police Equipment Exhibition and Conference) – 7 Israeli companies participate in 2018, 11 in 2020, 7 in 2026.
- IWA Outdoor Classics – at least two Israeli companies participated in 2019.
Joint Military Drills
April 2019, Germany – “Allied Spirit“: Israeli soldiers train with the Bundeswehr in a so called “full force exercise”.[99]Bedrohung bei Tag und Nacht: Allied Spirit X – Bundeswehr
2019, Israel – “Blue Flag“: – German Air Force participates in a joint exercise with six Eurofighter combat aircrafts.[100]Israel completes multinational fighter exercise Blue Flag 2019
2020, Germany – Air Force Training: The Israeli Air Force and the German Luftwaffe conduct a joint training, in which a total of 180 Israeli personnel is involved . Planes include F-16 fighter jets, Gulfstreams surveillance planes and Boeing 707 tanker jets.[101]Luftwaffe, Israeli Air Force conduct first joint exercise in Germany/
2020, Germany – “MLCD20“: The German Armed Forces plan a joint cyber maneuver with the Israeli military, entitled “Multi-Lateral Cyber Defense Exercise 20” (MLCD20), with units from Austria and Switzerland also taking part.[102]New German military exercises with Israel
2021, Israel (Palmachim military base) – “Blue Guardian“: Soldiers from Germany, USA, UK, France and Italy train with the Israeli Air Force in the use of “live-fire munitions” with drones for 10 days. According to the Israeli military, this is first international drone-focused military exercise ever held.[103]Lilach Shoval, In first, IAF hosts international drone exercise, jns, 14.7.2021
2021, Israel – “Blue Flag”: Germany, France, Greece, India, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States all send fighter aircraft and personnel to Israel to participate in the exercise.[104]Blue Flag exercise has Israel’s enemies seeing red
2023, Portugal – “REPMUS”: an annual military exercise organized and hosted by the Portuguese Navy and NATO. In the exercise IAI and German marine electronics and systems company Atlas Electronik presented BlueWhale.[105]Dean Shmuel Elmas, Israeli unmanned sub seen deployed against Iran, 11.7.24
2025, Israel – Heron TP training: Training for Germany on the Heron TP drones are taking place in the Israeli Air Force base Tel Nof. The trainings were suspended in the beginning of the war in Gaza and resumed in April 2025.[106]nd Journalismus von links, Cooperation with Israel: More combat drones for Germany, 16.06.2025
Cybersecurity Relations
2016: In addition to a visit by Israeli PM Netanyahu and other ministers, a joint declaration of intent on cooperation in the field of nanotechnology and cyber-security is signed between the Director General of the Israeli ministry of Economy and Germany’s Parliamentary State Secretary and the Federal Minister of Education and Research.[107]Israel-German cooperation will include joint programs to support small and medium-sized companies active in the field of nanotechnology, as well as cooperation between research institutes from both … Continue reading
2017: Israeli company Checkmarx is selected to run an Israeli chapter of the German Cyber Security Council Germany (CSCG). Later in the year, CSCG signs a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Israel Advanced Technology Industries (IATI).[108]Cybersecurity Is Bringing Germany and Israel Closer
2018: Israeli facial recognition company Oosto (formerly Anyvision) takes part in a pilot project of testing facial recognition technologies at a train station in Berlin to monitor and surveil passers-by.[109]Surveillance laboratory Südkreuz
2018: Netzpolitik.org reports on German State Police units’ use of Cellebrite’s phone data extraction systems.[110]Mit diesen sieben Programmen liest die Polizei Smartphone-Daten aus
2019: Data compiled by Start-Up Nation Central (SNC) shows a significant German presence in the Israeli technology industry.[111]Germans flock to Israel seeking technology
German federal authorities buy the Pegasus spyware from NSO Group. Eventually, the BKA federal police uses the spyware; it remains unclear whether German intelligence agencies also use it.[112]Germany admits police used spyware from NSO Group in ‘small number of cases’
German federal police service used the controversial Israeli spyware Pegasus in 2019.[113]The Times of Israel, Germany admits police used spyware from NSO Group in ‘small number of cases’, 07.09.2021
2020: German pharma giant Bayer announces the set up of a cybersecurity development center in Israel, as part of the German multinational global cybersecurity operations. The new center would be one of Bayer’s largest internal cyber units.[114]Pharma giant Bayer to set up cybersecurity center in Israel
Use of Israeli Arms
Litening: Used by the German Air Force on the Panavia Tornado and Eurofighter Typhoon aircrafts
- 2007: A pair of German Tornado aircraft fly reconnaissance missions over an anti-globalization demonstration during the G8 summit in Heiligendamm.[115]German war jets against anti-G8 protesters
- 2007-2010: 6 Tornado jets are used for aerial photographs and reconnaissance in Afghanistan [116]Germany to Withdraw Tornado Jets from Afghanistan
- 2014: Eurofighter Typhoon aircrafts are based in Amari Air Base in Estonia as part of NATO Baltic Air Policing mission. During the mission, the Eurofighters scramble and intercept seven Russian Air Force aircraft over the Baltic Sea.[117]German Typhoons have intercepted 7 Russian Air Force combat planes over the Baltic Sea today
Spike Missiles: Used by German Special Forces Command on “Puma” armored infantry fighting vehicles.[118]Puma AIFV Tracked Armoured Infantry Fighting Vehicle
A-4M Skyhawk-2 aircraft: Used by German Air Force as aircraft target for training in Wittmund, Germany.[119]Upgraded A-4Ns destined for Germany
Heron drone: Heron-1 used by German Military in Afghanistan and Mali.[120]German Bundeswehr renews Service Contracts for Heron 1 systems in Afghanistan and Mali
RecceLite aircraft recce system: Used by the German Air Force on Tornado Panavia Aircraft. [121]Business Insider – photos of German Air Force Tornados in a refueling exercise
BriefCam Video Analysis: In use by Hamburg Police.[122]BriefCam Presentation : Solution Overview – BriefCam at Work in Safe Cities
Pegasus (NSO Group): Used by BKA Federal Police on several occasions.[123]Germany admits police used spyware from NSO Group
UFED (Cellebrite): German state police uses Cellebrite’s technology for crime investigation and customs service investigations.[124]Mit diesen sieben Programmen liest die Polizei Smartphone-Daten aus Bavarian crime police unit purchased UFED from Cellebrite in 2018.[125]TED Europa Contract Award Notice – Bavaria In 2017, Cellebrite was operated in a test-phase by the German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees.[126]Bundestag : Request of Information IT usage in Bundesamt for Migration and Refugees.
The following German authorities purchased UFED from Cellebrite: Munich State Police (2015)[127]TED Europa Contract Award Notice – Munich 2015 (2018)[128]TED Europa Contract Award Notice – Munich 2018, Freiburg Customs Service (2016)[129]TED Europa Contract Award Notice – Freiburg, Stuttgart Police (2019)[130]TED Europa Contract Award Notice – Stuttgart 2019(2020)[131]TED Europa Contract Award Notice – Stuttgart 2020 (2021)[132]TED Europa Contract Award Notice – Stuttgart 2021 (2022)[133]TED Europa Contract Award Notice – Stuttgart 2022, Lower Saxony State Police (2019)[134]TED Europa Contract Award Notice – Lower Saxony 2019, Financial administration of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia (2020)[135]TED Europa Contract Award Notice – NRW 2020, Leipzig Police (2020)[136]TED Europa Contract Award Notice – Leipzig 2020
Activism, court cases & changes in policy
March 2024: Nicaragua files a case against Germany with the International Court of Justice, demanding that the court issues emergency orders for Germany to halt arms sales to Israel.
April 2024: The ICJ rules 15:1 against issuing the emergency orders.[137]ICJ rules it will not halt German arms to Israel
June 7, 2024: In a joint operation by Israeli activists, the Stop Arming Israel coalition in Germany and other groups, activists gather at the German embassy in Tel Aviv, demanding that Germany halts arms sales to Israel and thus stops arming Israel with weapons that it uses in the genocide in Gaza. The activists also sent a letter to the German Ambassador to Israel with the same request. Protesters were removed by the police, and at least 5 were detained.[138]Protesters in Tel Aviv urge Germany to stop sending arms to Israel
September 2024: In an answer to a parliamentary question, the German Economy Ministry states that there have been no exports of “weapons of war” to Israel from January to June 2024. The answer also reveals that weapon components and technology are still being exported, though the scale of such exports has reduced significantly (from an approval of over €3 million in October 2023, to around €35,000 in July 2024). However, the ministry spokesperson claims that there has been no change in policy towards military exports to Israel, and that “there is no ban on the export of arms to Israel, nor will there be”.[139]Ben Knight, Germany slows arms exports to Israel – without admitting it, 27.9.24
August 2025: Germany announced it will suspend sales of military equipment to Israel that could be used in Gaza.[140]The Times of Israel, In major shift, Germany limits arms exports to Israel over Gaza City takeover plan, 08.08.2025[141]The Guardian, Germany halts export to Israel of arms that could be used in Gaza as global outcry grows, 08.08.2025
September 2025: Activists broke into a Elbit’s weapons factory in Ulm and sabotaged equipment in a direct action against the genocide in Gaza and Elbit’s role in supplying arms to the Israeli army.[142]Democracy Now, Activists Sabotage Equipment in German Weapons Factory That Supplies Arms to Israel, 09.09.2025