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In World War II, several of the biggest factories European companies had to completely reinvent themselves in a matter of months, going from producing civilian goods to manufacturing strategic equipment or vice versa. Since then, the ability of an industrial plant to change function quickly has been considered one of the key indicators of economic resilience. From cars to domes. I told it exclusively this morning the financial times. Volkswagen has found a way out for one of its ailing factories in Germany. The Osnabrück plant, threatened with closure due to the decline in the automobile business, it could be converted very soon to produce components and anti-missile system material Israeli Iron Dome. There is no doubt, the change it’s very deep. It would go from assembling civilian vehicles to manufacturing military technology. All for a very clear objective: maintain the 2,300 jobs and make use of an industrial infrastructure that is no longer profitable in the automotive sector. Industry in crisis. The move reflects a broader change in Germany, one that we have been counting recent months: the automotive sector suffers from competition China and a slower than expected electrical transition. At the same time, defense spending in Europe is growing strongly after the war in Ukraine. As things stand, Berlin plans to invest more than 500,000 million of euros in the coming years, and in this context, factories that previously produced cars are now seeking to adapt to the military industrywhere demand is stable and growing. Iron Dome Launch System What exactly would they make? According to the FTthe plant would not produce complete missiles, but key parts of the system. Among them, the trucks that transport the launchers, the launch systems and the electrical generators that activate them. Talk later of essential elements for the system to work in the field. Furthermore, the plan requires a relatively low investment and could be operational within a short period of time. from 12 to 18 months. Plus: Rafael would install another specialized factory in Germany for interceptorswhich would complete the production chain in Europe. How the “Dome” works. The Israeli anti-missile system is designed to intercept rockets short-range before they impact inhabited areas. It works in several phases. First, a radar detects the launch and calculate the trajectory of the projectile. A control system then decides whether the rocket poses a real threat or will fall into an uninhabited area. If it is dangerous, it is launched an interceptor missile which destroys it in the air. This process occurs in a matter of seconds. The system combines sensors, software and mobile launchers, and Israel claims it manages to intercept more than 90% of the projectiles that it considers dangerous. A return to military production with history. For Volkswagen, this turn is not completely new. As we count a few months ago, during the Second World War, the company already produced military vehicles and even weapons clike the V1 bomb. After decades focused on the civilian sector, this collaboration would mark a partial return to the defense industry. Even so, the context is different. Now it’s about take advantage of industrial capacity existing in a changing economic environment, not a reconversion forced by an all-out war. Europe and its defense. The interest, furthermore, is not only industrial. Also It’s strategic. Europe seeks strengthen your autonomy in defense and reduce its dependence on third parties. There is no doubt, introducing systems like the Iron Dome on European soil facilitates its deployment and maintenance. However, there are doubts. The reason: the system is designed for short-range threats and some experts question its effectiveness against more advanced missiles. Even so, the need to strengthen air defense is driving these types of projects. An industrial decision. The plan, in any case, is not yet completely closed and depends on the acceptance of workers. Not everyone is willing to go from manufacturing cars to producing military equipment, but the media explained that the alternative is uncertain. With the planned closure of current production, reconversion appears as one of the few options to maintain activity. If you like, ultimately the decision reflects a major change. The European industry is beginning to adapt to a scenario where security is once again an economic engine. Image | Roger Wollstadt, Israel Defense Forces, Kārlis Dambrāns In Xataka | Germany was a sleeping military giant: now it has been awakened and it is already surpassing the US in bullets produced per year In Xataka | The “rearmament” of Europe has begun at a Volkswagen factory in Germany: instead of cars they will produce tanks