Iron Dome Comes to Germany Despite Qatar Pushback
Germany and Israel will manufacture Iron Dome support equipment in Osnabrück, bypassing Qatari opposition through a state and fund investment.
Jerusalem, 6 September, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Germany and Israel have found a way around a Qatari veto that threatened plans to manufacture Iron Dome support equipment in Germany.
The original plan was to turn Volkswagen’s struggling Osnabrück plant into a defense manufacturing center for Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. But Qatar, which holds a 17% voting stake in Volkswagen, opposed the project and blocked the plan.
Under the new arrangement, Lower Saxony will join investment fund Aurelius Capital to buy the plant from Volkswagen. The German state plans to invest €200 million ($232 million). Once Volkswagen leaves, Qatar will no longer be able to block the project.
Rafael will produce military logistics vehicles, heavy trucks, launchers and generators for Iron Dome.
Tamir interceptor missiles will not be made there.
Production is expected to begin in 2027, preserving hundreds of jobs at the plant, which employs about 2,300 people.