🏭 RAFAEL REPORTEDLY SET TO PRODUCE IRON DOME COMPONENTS IN GERMANY: According to Globes, citing Germany’s WirtschaftsWoche, Rafael is expected to begin producing Iron Dome components as early as next year at Volkswagen’s Osnabrück plant. Production would reportedly include launchers, trucks, generators and other components, but not Iron Dome interceptors. Components for other weapons systems could eventually also be produced there.
Volkswagen would sell the plant to a consortium involving the state of Lower Saxony, Munich-based Aurelius Capital and Rafael rather than participate directly in defense production. The arrangement reportedly circumvents opposition from Qatar’s investment fund, which holds 10% of Volkswagen shares and 17% of voting rights.
Lower Saxony had previously been reported as considering a contribution of about €200 million, although the total transaction value remains unclear and Germany’s federal government is not expected to participate.
The Osnabrück plant employs about 2,300 people and is scheduled to end production of Volkswagen T-Roc convertibles in mid-2027. Lower Saxony Premier Olaf Lies is reportedly expected to announce the new partnership Monday and say that “not a single job will be lost.”
The move comes as Volkswagen pursues broader restructuring involving up to 50,000 additional layoffs and four plant closures. The plant’s works council has not yet unequivocally endorsed the shift to defense production. Rafael has not commented on the report.
🛡️ NORTHERN SHIELD EXPANDS TO COMMUNITIES WITHIN 9 KM OF LEBANO: The Prime Minister’s Office, Defense Ministry, Construction and Housing Ministry and Home Front Command announced that the expanded “Northern Shield” protection project will cover frontline communities within 9 km of the Lebanese border.
Eligible homeowners will be able to receive grants of up to NIS 182,000 to construct a protected room, or Mamad, with applications expected to open September 15. The expansion is expected to add more than 15,000 Mamads across 89 communities.
Protection for approximately 11,000 apartments in multi-unit buildings will be carried out centrally by the Construction and Housing Ministry and Urban Renewal Authority, with a budget of approximately NIS 4.2 billion.
The program is in addition to roughly 3,000 Mamads already being advanced within 1 km of the border, more than half completed or being handed over, as well as protection work at more than 335 educational institutions, 1,600 additional protective shelters and renovations of over 600 public shelters.
The Defense Ministry and Home Front Command will separately publish the full eligibility criteria, participating communities, application process and implementation timetable.
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