Ukraine War · 02 September, 2026 · 3 min read
Germany Tests Israeli Lora Ballistic Missile in North Atlantic as Russia’s Ukraine War Spurs Long-Range Options
Germany reportedly tested an Israeli Lora ballistic missile in the North Atlantic. The test was described as secret and previously undisclosed.
4 outlets, one story, no spin found.
3 of 4 outlets skipped it: a German-made submarine Akhidrakon departs to Haifa.
4outlets compared
Al Jazeera emphasises deterrence; Mont Carlo leads with missile range and budget/procurement details.
Germany tests Lora missile
Germany successfully tested an Israeli ballistic missile of the Lora model in the North Atlantic at night, according to military officials, as Berlin seeks long-range options after the outbreak of Russia’s war on Ukraine. The German Defense Ministry said the system manufactured in Israel has a range of up to 500 kilometers, and commander of the German Navy Jan Christian Kaack said, “Our units can successfully deploy the system, and its potential range surpasses anything we have seen before.” The test was described as part of arms programs Germany launched after Russia’s war on Ukraine, with Germany also working on developing an upgraded version of the Taurus cruise missile and planning production of the new version to begin in 2029.
In parallel, Germany and Tel Aviv signed agreements worth $6.7 billion in 2025 to purchase the Iron Dome “Arrow 3” air defense system, and the cooperation included the Hermes TP drone operated by Germany. The Al-Jazeera report framed the Lora test as a new chapter in deterrence and readiness for maritime defense, linking it to Germany’s broader shift in defense policy prompted by the war’s repercussions in Europe.
Israel ties deepen
Al-Jazeera traced German-Israeli defense cooperation to the 1950s, when the German government supplied Israel with two warships in 1955, and it said that after the Russia-Ukraine war began in February 2022, Germany reassessed its military capabilities and launched new arms programs. It also said Germany’s participation in multination defense projects using Israeli equipment coincided with a secret test of the long-range Israeli Lora system, while Germany’s defense industries expanded with Rheinmetall emerging as a leading defense company. Germany’s defense spending is described in the report as rising under the 2027 budget plan, with basic defense spending set to rise to €109 billion ($124.5 billion) from €82.2 billion ($93.9 billion) in 2026.
In a separate account, مونت كارلو الدولية said Berlin is participating in multiple programs aimed at developing long-range missiles and is also considering options to purchase such weapons. The same مونت كارلو الدولية report said Germany is also working on developing an upgraded version of the Taurus cruise missile, which it described as currently its only weapon with a range of several hundred kilometers.
Stakes for Europe
Al-Jazeera linked Germany’s closer defense cooperation with Israel to the rapidly changing security landscape in Europe driven by the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, describing the Lora test as part of maritime defense to protect Germany and its allies.
It said the “Sky Shield” project launched by Germany after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 includes 21 countries and relies on American and Israeli equipment within a multi-layered air defense system.
The report also said Germany is developing a new version of the Taurus cruise missile with production set to begin in 2029, and it stated that German forces possess about 600 missiles of the current version.
On the Israeli side, Al-Jazeera said Germany became the first country in the world, alongside Israel, to operate the Iron Dome air defense system (ARROW 3) developed by Israel Aerospace Industries in partnership with the U.S. Missile Defense Agency.
In the broader context of European security calculations, the Ma’ariv account cited Israeli political sources saying that the war in Ukraine and growing fears of Russia contributed to shifting European security calculations, especially in the Baltic states that see themselves on the front line against Moscow.