Berlin’s rush for proven firepower exposes Europe’s wider struggle to build long-range strike capabilities of its own. Germany’s successful test of an Israeli-made LORA ballistic missile has demonstrated a potential long-range precision-strike capability that its navy has not previously fielded, marking a significant shift in Berlin’s approach to deterrence. Jacek Raubo, head of the Defence24 Analysis Unit and a national-security expert, told TVP World’s World Talks program that the test placed “new capabilities” in the hands of German military planners and could strengthen NATO’s wider deterrence posture. The German Navy carried out a dual operational firing trial of the Naval LORA system in the North Atlantic on Tuesday night. Israel Aerospace Industries, which developed the weapon, says the missile can strike targets at ranges of up to 430 kilometers with a circular error probable of around 10 meters. Germany has not previously launched a ballistic missile from one of its warships. Speed over sovereignty For Raubo, Berlin’s decision to test an Israeli system reflects the urgency facing European armed forces as they race to close capability gaps while domestic program remain under development. “So time is the biggest factor for us right now,” he said, arguing that buying proven systems from partners such as Israel, the United States or South Korea can provide an interim solution while Europe expands its own industrial base. The test fits into a broader effort to strengthen its military capabilities, including missile and air defense. Berlin bought the Israeli-made Arrow 3 ballistic-missile interceptor system in 2023, and its first Arrow 3 battery reached initial operational capability in December 2025. Europe’s own strike capability Raubo said Europe still needs to develop sovereign long-range strike systems, pointing to the European Long-Range Strike Approach, or ELSA, which brings together France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Sweden and the United Kingdom. The six countries are working through implementation groups that cover ground-launched strike systems in the 300–500-kilometer, 500–2,000-kilometer and more-than-2,000-kilometer ranges, alongside other long-range capabilities. Poland, he added, should be part of the industrial effort, supplying components, radars and sensors needed to turn missiles into complete strike systems. “There is no escape and no exit. We need to be in this race,” Raubo said.
