Germany to provide Ukraine with 50 additional missiles to IRIS-T

Germany will transfer 50 additional missiles to Ukraine for the IRIS-T air defense systems originally intended for the Bundeswehr.

The German Aid to Ukraine project reported on this, citing German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius.

In addition, the head of the German defense ministry confirmed that 30 M-84A4 tanks and 30 M-80 infantry fighting vehicles that Germany purchased from Croatia for Ukraine were delivered at the end of last year.

Pistorius did not specify whether the missiles in question were SLM or SLS.

IRIS-T from Germany

At the end of December, it was reported that Germany had shipped the sixth IRIS-T air defense system to Ukraine as part of military assistance.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced this at a briefing after the European Council’s meeting in Brussels. At the time, he did not specify which system he was referring to.

The SLM and SLS differ in their chassis, missiles, and range of intercepting air targets.

In November, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi announced this transfer of air defense systems after a conversation with the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany.

In October, Germany supplied Ukraine with the IRIS-T SLM medium-range air defense system and the IRIS-T SLS short-range air defense system.

It was previously reported that the Ukrainian Defense Forces were to receive two IRIS-T SLM air defense systems and two IRIS-T SLS systems by the end of 2024.

Also in September, Olaf Scholz announced the contracting of a total of 17 units of the IRIS-T air defense system for the needs of Ukraine.

IRIS-T SLM

The IRIS-T SLM system is designed to destroy airplanes, helicopters, UAVs, and cruise missiles. It can engage air targets at a range of up to 40 km and has demonstrated its effectiveness in Ukraine.

IRIS-T SLS

Ukraine received Germany’s first IRIS-T SLS short-range air defense systems in August last year.

The system is designed to intercept enemy aircraft, helicopters, and UAVs. In the SLS version, it is capable of intercepting aerodynamic targets at a distance of up to 12 kilometers and an altitude of up to 8 kilometers. The system is based on an IRIS-T missile with an infrared homing head that has been modernized for ground launch.