Germany and Israel deepen their dual-track defense business

Germany and Israel have intensified their defense industry collaboration, marked by a dual-track approach that includes both exports and imports of advanced military technology. The strategic partnership, which spans naval armaments and security cooperation, reflects a deepening relationship between Berlin and Jerusalem in the defense sector.

Official data from Der Spiegel indicates that between January and June 2026, the German government authorized defense exports to Israel totaling 800 million euros. This amount is nearly four times the total value of such exports in the entire year of 2025, which stood at approximately 201 million euros. The majority of these authorizations, 735.8 million euros, were granted in the second quarter of the year.

The German government identified a significant portion of these exports as part of a major naval armaments project. Specifically, 67 percent of the second-quarter authorizations were related to the INS Drakon, the third and final Dolphin-class submarine with air-independent propulsion built by TKMS for Israel. This submarine, which departed from the TKMS shipyard in Kiel this week, is en route to Haifa.

Additionally, 21 percent of the second-quarter authorizations were for cooperative projects between German and Israeli companies aimed at benefiting Germany’s armed forces. The remaining 12 percent covered other defense products, including firearms, ammunition, explosives, and aircraft. The government has not disclosed specific details about these items due to security concerns.

These export figures are provisional and represent authorizations rather than actual deliveries. The volume of exports this year is also influenced by the partial suspension of defense exports from Germany, which was imposed in August 2025 due to the war in Gaza and later lifted at the end of November.

The growing defense ties between Germany and Israel are part of a broader trend of military cooperation. According to data from the SIPRI Observatory, published in March 2026, Germany is the second-largest importer of defense equipment from Israel, underscoring the significance of this bilateral relationship.

Source: Read the original report (translated from Spanish)