Lower Saxony, Rafael and Aurelius to build Iron Dome components at former VW factory
While the Iron Dome’s Tamir interceptor itself will not be manufactured there, military vehicles, launchers, generators, and other equipment will be
Lower Saxony, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, and Aurelius Capital have signed a letter of intent to purchase Volkswagen's former Osnabrück plant. This agreement will allow Rafael to establish production of Iron Dome components in Germany, marking a shift from the original plan that involved Volkswagen's cooperation with Rafael for part production.
Qatar, Volkswagen's largest foreign shareholder, blocked that plan. The Osnabrück site, currently employing 2,300 people, produces vehicles like the T-Roc Cabriolet, Porsche Cayman, and Porsche Boxster. Volkswagen plans to vacate the site in the second half of 2027, with Iron Dome's Tamir interceptor not being manufactured there.
Instead, military vehicles, launchers, generators, and other equipment will be produced. Lower Saxony's Minister-President, Olaf Lies, highlighted the partnership's potential for long-term, highly skilled employment and the need for Germany and Europe to strengthen their security and defense industry capabilities. Rafael, active in Germany for over 20 years, aims to fully produce the technology in Germany to protect Germany and Europe, with the system evolving to stay ahead of threats.
The Iron Dome system, initially designed for short-range rockets, has become an essential part of Israel's multi-layered defense array and has undergone numerous updates following conflicts and operations. German defenses are also bolstered with the purchase of Israel's Arrow 3, a highly maneuverable system developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) for intercepting ballistic missiles.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
