Volkswagen May Support Israel's Iron Dome with Component Supply

3 hours ago 2

March 25, 2026 | 09:07 pm

An Iron Dome launcher in Be'er Sheva on March 27, 2011. Israel relies on a multilayered air defense system (consisting of Iron Dome, David's Sling, and Arrow 3) and Mossad's intelligence gathering in Iran to support its strategic operations and technological superiority. Shuterstock

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Volkswagen, the largest car manufacturer in Europe, which was founded as part of efforts to stabilize the German economy under Adolf Hitler, may become the main supplier of components for Israel's Iron Dome air defense system, the civil defense cornerstone in the conflict with Iran.

Volkswagen is reportedly in talks with Israeli defense company, Rafael, as reported by The Financial Times on Tuesday, cited by Ynets, quoting sources familiar with the discussions. If concluded, the Iron Dome components will be produced at the company's plant in Osnabruck, Germany.

At this stage, the parties have neither confirmed nor denied the reports. According to Reuters, both Rafael, the German Ministry of Defense, and Volkswagen have declined to comment.

If approved, the deal could help Volkswagen avoid laying off 2,300 workers, as the decision to halt car production at the plant was made several years ago. The facility currently produces the T-Roc Cabriolet, a compact convertible SUV based on a model previously marketed in Israel.

Reports indicate that the German government is aware of the discussions and is claimed to support the cooperation between Volkswagen and Rafael.

Sources involved in the discussions believe that, if the deal is signed, Volkswagen could become the main supplier of Iron Dome within one to one and a half years - provided that its union agrees to switch from car manufacturing to weapons system production.

Although its first car - the Beetle - was designed at the request of Hitler, Volkswagen emerged as a major car manufacturer under the British military administration after World War II.

Major Ivan Hirst, a British officer tasked with rebuilding West Germany, chose to restore the Volkswagen plant in Wolfsburg and turn it into a civilian car factory - initially for the British army and then for the German civilian population.

This initiative gave birth to the Beetle, which helped rejuvenate the German economy and became one of the best-selling cars in automotive history.

Currently, Volkswagen is generally not involved in the production of military vehicles or technology. Apart from special versions of models like the Transporter and Crafter used by emergency services and some European militaries, and the chassis versions of its Amarok pickup, the company does not produce specialized military vehicles.

Historically, however, Volkswagen did produce off-road vehicles used by armed forces, including the Type 181 between 1968 and 1983, and the Iltis in the early 1980s, which also competed in the Paris-Dakar Rally.

Read: Iran Urges Regional Countries to Form Security Alliance Without US, Israel

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