Rafael to Produce Iron Dome Components in Germany at Former Volkswagen Site
Rafael, an Israeli company, the state of Lower Saxony, and the Aurelius Capital fund have signed a letter of intent to convert a former Volkswagen site in Osnabrück, Germany, into an industrial center for defense and security technologies. Rafael plans to manufacture components for air defense systems, including the Iron Dome, at this new facility. Production is anticipated to commence as early as next year, focusing on heavy trucks, launchers, and generators. The interceptor missiles themselves will not be produced on-site. This initiative aims to preserve a significant portion of the 2,300 jobs at the Volkswagen site, which were at risk due to restructuring. The agreement follows tensions regarding Qatar's participation in Volkswagen's capital, as a Qatari fund, a Volkswagen shareholder, reportedly opposed direct cooperation with Rafael, threatening to block the deal. An alternative arrangement was ultimately established to ensure Volkswagen's indirect involvement in the partnership. 
