CNN —The US has approved Israel’s request to sell the Arrow-3 missile system to Germany, the Israeli defense ministry said Thursday, in what will become Israel’s largest ever defense deal. The approval paves the way for Israel and Germany to sign a landmark $3.5 billion defense agreement, according to the Israeli defense ministry. Israel will sell the Arrow-3 missile system to Germany, which is designed to intercept ballistic missiles that can travel outside the atmosphere. Israel Ministry of Defense/Xinhua/Getty ImagesIsrael and the United States have been jointly developing the multi-billion-dollar Arrow missile defense system since 1986. Senior Israeli and German officials will sign a letter of commitment worth $600 million to enable immediate work on the project, the Israeli ministry spokesperson said.

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Persons: Yoav Gallant, ” Gallant, ” Organizations: CNN, US Department of State, Israel’s Ministry of Defense, Israel Ministry of Defense, Xinhua, Getty Images Israel, Arrow, Senior Locations: Germany, Israel, United States