Germany will supply Ukraine with the first of four modern IRIS-T SLM air defense systems. This was stated by German Defense Minister Christina Lambrecht, Spiegel reports. The minister noted that the first system will arrive "in the next few days", and the remaining three promised by Germany will appear in 2023.
According to previous agreements, the first IRIS-T complex was expected by the end of October, and the remaining deliveries were to be completed in early 2023.
“The resumption of missile strikes on Kyiv and many other cities highlights the importance of providing Ukraine with air defense systems quickly. That is why we are now providing special support with means to counter the threat from the air. In the next few days, the first of our four advanced IRIS-T systems will be ready to effectively protect Ukrainians,” the German Defense Ministry said on Twitter.
IRIS-T SLM air defense systems use GPS and INS navigation systems and receive constant target designations from a tracking station. They are also equipped with an infrared guidance system that allows you to track helicopters, aircraft, cruise and anti-ship missiles, as well as air-to-ground missiles.
On the morning of October 10, Russia launched a massive shelling of Ukraine. Deputy Defense Minister Anna Malyar, citing the General Staff, said that 83 missiles were fired at different cities, 43 of them shot down air defense systems. As a result of Russian shelling, 11 people were killed and 87 were injured.