A mysterious drone spotted over Germany’s first Arrow 3 missile-defense battery has raised concern in the German Air Force and may accelerate Berlin’s plans to procure laser-based defenses, potentially creating a new opportunity for Israeli defense companies Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Elbit Systems.
The incident occurred on December 1, 2025, when an unmanned aerial vehicle was detected hovering above the Luftwaffe’s first Arrow 3 battery at Holzdorf Air Base, near Schönewalde, about 120 km. south of Berlin.
The drone was not intercepted, and it remains unclear who operated it. Russia was immediately viewed as a possible suspect, amid concern that Moscow may have sought to gather intelligence on the Israeli-made system Germany purchased from Israel Aerospace Industries in two separate deals worth a combined $6.5 billion.
Air-defense systems have become increasingly attractive targets in modern warfare
The Arrow 3 system gives Germany the ability to intercept ballistic missiles, a capability Berlin has pursued as part of its broader response to the growing missile threat in Europe.
The German Air Force currently lacks an effective solution for intercepting small drones and unmanned aerial vehicles, and has identified laser systems as one possible answer. Air-defense systems have become increasingly attractive targets in modern warfare. Hezbollah, for example, has released footage showing attempts to attack Iron Dome launchers in northern Israel using drones.
Germany’s Defense Ministry is expected to soon launch a project to develop a 60-kilowatt laser demonstrator designed to defend mobile facilities against drone swarms. According to reports in Germany, the ministry consulted with a “foreign laser manufacturer” while preparing the tender.
Rafael, which is developing Iron Beam, known in Hebrew as Or Eitan, for Israel’s Defense Ministry as a 100-kilowatt-class laser interception system, has also presented lower-power laser models. Elbit Systems, which supplies key laser technology for the Israeli program and is also developing an airborne laser system, is already active in Germany’s defense market.
Should Germany hold an open tender for a laser-defense system rather than select a supplier in advance, Israeli laser manufacturers are expected to compete for the project. Such a system could eventually be used to help protect Germany’s Arrow 3 batteries from drones and other low-cost aerial threats.