Ukraine has strengthened its air defense with the arrival of an additional IRIS-T SLM medium-range surface-to-air missile battery, raising the total number of such systems in service to eight. The delivery, confirmed on August 29 by German Aid in Ukraine, is the second this year and part of Germany’s broader commitment to supply 18 IRIS-T SLM units in total.
According to the sources battery was delivered two weeks ago after Ukrainian crews completed training in July. There was also reported that the new system is already operational and deployed for combat use.
Germany has pledged to deliver 18 IRIS-T SLM units, of which seven were in Ukraine by late July. With the latest arrival, 11 more systems remain to be transferred.
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Why the German IRIS-T Air Defense System Is Critical for Ukraine
Mar 17, 2025 18:36
Diehl Defense, the system’s manufacturer, is expanding production capacity with a €1 billion investment, but officials acknowledge that the pace of deliveries depends not only on manufacturing but also on training Ukrainian personnel.
“The production of these systems is being carried out in parallel, and crews are undergoing training on schedule,” Defence Express reported. Berlin has indicated that four systems are due for delivery to Ukraine in 2025, though so far only two have been handed over.
The IRIS-T SLM forms part of a layered defense network that also includes Patriot systems, NASAMS, and locally developed solutions.
Ukrainian officials stress that strengthening air defense remains one of the country’s top priorities as Russia continues to target cities and energy infrastructure with missiles and drones.
Earlier, it was reported that the German‐supplied IRIS‑T system has played a vital role in Ukraine’s layered air defense, intercepting cruise missiles and aircraft with near‑perfect effectiveness, including instances where crews shot down 15 cruise missiles in a single attack and destroyed 44 Kh‑55 missiles in one engagement.
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