Overview
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the program at an air force ceremony, casting self-reliance as a national security priority.
- Israel projects defense will account for roughly 16% of the 2026 state budget, estimated at about €30–35 billion.
- U.S. support in 2025 totaled $3.3 billion in military aid plus $500 million for missile-defense cooperation, according to Congress.
- Several countries, including Germany, temporarily halted or limited arms sales to Israel during the Gaza war, prompting supply concerns.
- Israel and Germany signed a contract last week to expand the Arrow 3 missile-defense system, valued by Israel at about €5.7 billion including the base procurement.