According to German media reports, Volkswagen management has approved Israel's Rafael to manufacture components for the Iron Dome missile defense system at the automaker's German plant, with production set to begin next year. The move is expected to help Volkswagen navigate its financial crisis and create hundreds of jobs for German workers, the reports say.
German media reports say Volkswagen's management has approved a deal allowing Israel's Rafael to produce components for the Iron Dome air defense system at the automaker's plant, with production expected to begin next year. The factory was originally established under the Nazi regime and has been part of Volkswagen's industrial heritage. The reports indicate that the agreement is intended to help Volkswagen—which has been grappling with a severe financial downturn, including plans to cut tens of thousands of jobs and close several factories in Germany—stabilize its operations and preserve local employment. Rafael, the Israeli state-owned defense contractor, is the primary manufacturer of the Iron Dome system, which has been a critical part of Israel's multi-layered missile defense. The reports do not specify which German outlet broke the story, nor whether the deal has been formally signed. Previous reports, which The Zioneer covered, indicated that Qatari shareholders in Volkswagen had blocked a similar agreement earlier this year, leading to tensions with the German government. The current reports suggest management is moving forward despite that opposition, though no official confirmation has been issued by Volkswagen or Rafael.
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