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IRIS-T

Germany delivered a fresh military aid package to Ukraine, including two IRIS-T Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) launcher systems, according to an announcement on the official website of the German federal government. “This assistance encompasses supplies from Bundeswehr stocks, German industry, as well as joint supply partners, who are partially funded through the German government’s Readiness Initiative,” the statement said.

“The funding for the Readiness Initiative for the year 2023 totals 5.4 billion euros (compared to 2 billion euros in 2022) plus an authorization for commitments in the coming years of around 10.5 billion euros. These funds will be primarily used for military support to Ukraine. Simultaneously, they will be utilized for financing the replenishment of military assets for the Bundeswehr transferred to Ukraine from Bundeswehr stocks, as well as Germany’s contributions to the European Peace Facility (EPF), from which expenses of EU member states in support of Ukraine can be compensated,” the statement detailed.

In October 2022, Germany sent the first of the four IRIS-T air defense systems to Ukraine. The delivery of the further three systems ws expected in 2023. The IRIS-T SLM ground-based anti-aircraft system is primarily designed to protect civilians by deflecting aerial attacks by the Russian army. IRIS-T can purportedly protect an entire city from missiles that are up to 40 kilometers away. It also detects low-flying missiles (such as Kalibr) and drones thanks to its sensitive radar, which integrates data from various sources. It is considered one of the best anti-aircraft missile systems, which even the Bundeswehr does not have at its disposal.

On 11 October 2022, Ukraine received its first modern Western defense system from Germany: IRIS-T, one of the world's most advanced air-defense systems. IRIS-T is manufactured in southern Germany and is relatively new. It has been in development since the 1990s, and tests of the latest version were finalized in 2021.

Back in June 2022, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz promised that four of these systems would be delivered, and the deal was expected to be finalized by the end of this year. However, Russia’s deadly strikes on Ukrainian cities sped up the process. Ukraine had one battery that consists of a radar, command-and-control system, and three missile launchers, carrying a total of 24 missiles. Three more batteries were expected next year, mostly due to the long manufacturing process.

The Ukrainian Air Force said on Oct. 6 that its personnel are already training how to operate both the German-made IRIS-T and Norwegian NASAMS. Ukraine’s international partners pledged to provide Ukraine with both these modern air defense systems. Ukraine has received the first German IRIS-T anti-air defense battery, German newspaper Der Spiegel reported on 11 October 2022. According to Spiegel, the transfer took place next to the Polish-Ukrainian border. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz earlier said one IRIS-T battery has the capacity to protect a large city. The German government confirmed the deal to supply Ukraine with four IRIS-T systems on Sept. 29, although it could take up to two years to manufacture them.

The IRIS-T air defense system is a modern system, and the units that Ukraine received had already been modernized. Such systems aren’t used anywhere in the world. The only downside is that there are few of them. Yuriy Ihnat, Spokesperson of the Air Force Command of Ukrainian Armed Forces made this statement 21 October 2022 at Media Center Ukraine-Ukrinform. “We expect that the German industry will gain momentum so that we will get as many of these systems into service as possible. One of these systems is already working in Ukraine,” – he said.

How IRIS-T works and where it is located is confidential information, because it is target number 1 for the enemy. “I will say this, during the last enemy attacks, the modern IRIS-T system proved itself and worked really well. Undoubtedly, it was a baptism of fire for these systems, it has passed the test in battle conditions. We will pass this information on to the German side, which will take certain points into account,” – the spokesman said.

The German-made IRIS-T air defense system successfully shot down all incoming targets during Ukraine’s first operational use of the weapons, the Ukrainian military reported on 21 January 2023. Vadym, an anti-aircraft missile maintenance technician working on the system, said that he had successfully intercepted all targets in range. "The German system is really modern, powerful and effective,” he explained. “Even during its baptism of fire in October it shot down all targets, mostly cruise missiles."

Volodymyr Zelensky has praised the German-made IRIS-T air defense system that was transferred to Ukraine and called for more such systems to be provided to the country. He said this in an interview with the German TV channel ARD. “Ukraine needs protection on the battlefield. This is artillery, MLRS, important armored vehicles – IFVs, armored personnel carriers of various types… We need tanks – this is the kind of equipment that we are in short supply of, there is nothing to hide. There is also a shortage of shells for all of the above. This is about forces on the ground. As far as the sky is concerned… Air defense systems are needed to protect our skies as much as possible. I am grateful to Germany for IRIS-T. They are good systems, we would like to get more of them. Scholz promised [to provide them], let’s believe the chancellor. We will be waiting. And, of course, NASAMS, Patriot,” he said.

In February 2023 Germany and Sweden were in talks over a new military aid package to Ukraine. According to it, Sweden will provide air defense missiles and launchers for IRIS-T systems.

Germany will continue to strengthen Ukraine's air defense systems with IRIS-T systems. This was stated in an interview published on 24 June 2023 in the newspaper Die Welt am Sonntag , General Christian Freuding, head of the working group for coordinating assistance to Ukraine under the German Defense Ministry. According to him, it is in the means of air defense that Ukraine now needs the most. "We are doing everything we can. But does Ukraine have enough air defense systems? Definitely not," the general added. Freuding recalled that Kyiv has already received two IRIS-T air defense systems, two more are expected before the end of the year, as expected. "Four more will be added in 2024," he said.