From The Telegraph, September 7:
German site to be sold to make air defence components ‘to protect Europe’
Volkswagen is selling one of its plants to be turned into a weapons factory for Israel’s biggest missile manufacturer.
The Osnabrück factory in north-west Germany is expected to end vehicle production next year, before being repurposed to build military equipment with Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.
VW said the site would make components for European air defence systems, while Yoav Tourgeman, Rafael’s chief executive, said the aim would be “to protect Germany and Europe”.
Bloomberg reported last month that plans for the plant called for the production of missile transporters, launchers and power generators for the Israeli Iron Dome defensive shield.
The Iron Dome is designed to counter short-range rockets, artillery shells, mortars and drones with a range of up to 43 miles. The system detects incoming projectiles and fires missiles at those that it calculates are on course to hit populated areas.
The German deal will exclude manufacture of the Tamir missiles used in the Iron Dome but would include other elements, according to The Jerusalem Post.
The Israeli paper also said the agreement was a potential step towards Berlin ordering the full-scale missile shield to help counter the threat from Russia.
Germany signed a $3.5bn (£2.6bn) contract for long-range Arrow 3 missiles in 2023 that was the largest defence deal in Israel’s history at the time, and has since signed a $3.1bn (£2.3bn) follow-up purchase....
....MUCH MORE
Not the first time VW was involved with the armaments business. Exiting a March 2026 post:
And on one of Doktor P's namesakes (the other, the Ferdinand, was a tank-destroyer, not nearly as well-engineered), March 10/11:
Porsche's €3.9bn writedown cuts automotive profit by 98% in EV retreat
