Germany Fires First Naval Ballistic Missile Amid Russia Tensions

Escalating its response to an alleged Russian attack at Leipzig Airport last month, the German Navy successfully fired an Israeli-made ballistic missile from a warship for the first time. The nighttime test of the 500-kilometer range LORA system took place in the North Atlantic, highlighting Europe’s accelerated push to acquire long-range deterrence. Praising the launch, German Navy Commander Jan Christian Kaack declared, “With the successful test we conducted last night in the North Atlantic, we have made history in naval warfare.” The historic drill occurred just hours after Berlin announced a sweeping new wave of sanctions against Moscow, including the closure of the Russian Consulate in Bonn and tighter restrictions on Russian maritime operations.