Tel Aviv: Israeli company Rafael and Aurelius Capital on September 07 signed a joint Statement of Intent.
The document reflects the parties’ intention to establish a strategic partnership aimed at developing the Volkswagen site in Osnabrück into a centre of excellence for innovative security and defence solutions.
“Through this Statement of Intent, we are opening up a genuine future perspective for Volkswagen’s Osnabrück site. This agreement reflects a shared conviction: Osnabrück possesses the industrial foundations needed to reposition itself in a forward-looking sector. This partnership creates realistic opportunities for long-term, highly skilled employment at a location that has stood for industrial excellence for 125 years,” said Olaf Lies, Minister-President of Lower Saxony.
He added, “Our security environment has changed fundamentally. Germany and Europe must strengthen their capabilities in the security and defence industry and become more independent. This is both a responsibility and an economic opportunity. Osnabrück can play an important role in this effort. The workforce has repeatedly demonstrated its ability to achieve outstanding results. We are building on that strength.”
“The technology at the heart of this partnership is built for the defence of today, tomorrow, and well beyond. Our outstanding combat proven technology evolves constantly in order to be ahead of the threats, so that highly reliable defence will always be provided. Today we are building a long-term industrial relationship with our German partners with the idea that the technology will be fully produced in Germany, to protect Germany and Europe,” stated Yoav Tourgeman, President and CEO, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.
The cooperation brings together complementary strengths. Rafael Advanced Defense Systems contributes technological expertise and extensive experience in the development of advanced defence systems.
Aurelius Capital provides global investment capacity and access to an international network of experienced investors.
As a shareholder, the State of Lower Saxony will actively support this transformation with a clear objective: safeguarding industrial value creation and high-quality jobs in the region.
Initially, the collaboration will focus on the potential development and production of components for air defence systems, particularly drawing on proven and internationally recognised technologies. With its extensive experience in advanced manufacturing, quality assurance, and industrialisation, the Osnabrück workforce is expected to play a central role in these efforts.
The planned cooperation is taking shape against the backdrop of a changing security environment. Strengthening Europe’s capacity for self-defence is a strategic necessity, and one that Germany should help shape proactively. The transformation of Osnabrück presents a unique opportunity: contributing to European security through German engineering expertise, quality standards, and industrial capabilities, in close partnership with Israeli counterparts.
Rafael Advanced Defense Systems has been active in Germany for more than 20 years. Through its subsidiaries Dynamit Nobel Defence, EuroSpike and EuroTrophy Gmbh the company has established a strong presence and well-developed structures in the German market.
This initiative further deepens the long-standing German Israeli partnership.
-The writer is an Israel-based freelance journalist. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
