Ukraine to receive modern IRIS-T air defence system from Germany in October – ambassador

Iryna Balachuk – Saturday, 11 June 2022, 15:14

The latest German air defence system, IRIS-T, which is able to protect a territory the size of Kyiv, will arrive in Ukraine in October.

Source: Ukrainian Ambassador to Germany Andriy Melnyk in an interview to "NV"

Quote from Melnyk: "The IRIS-T system is the only thing I have thanked the Chancellor and the government for in recent months. We have been working on it since the first days of the war. This system is the best in the world. It can be compared to the American Patriot. It  is a German product."

This will be the purchase from the German weapons manufacturer that we need, the parameters of which we have determined. Production will end in late summer. Then - training. Delivery – will be in October ".

Details: According to Melnyk, the first money from 1 billion euros, from the budget of the German Ministry of Defence to help Ukraine, will be spent on the IRIS-T missile system - this was confirmed by Chancellor Olaf Scholz on 1 June.

The ambassador explained the long delivery time by saying that these systems are still being manufactured for Ukraine.

For reference: IRIS-T (Infra-Red Imaging System Tail / Thrust Vector-Controlled) - infrared homing missiles. There are two versions of IRIS-T ground-to-air air defence missiles: IRIS-T SLS short-range and IRIS-T SLM medium-range. Their maximum firing range is 40 km, height - 20 km.

According to the characteristics of the IRIS-T, the air defence system is able to protect an area about the size of Kyiv. 

According to Melnyk, within 3-4 years, Ukraine will be able to station it around cities and major facitilies.

Background: Ukrainian Ambassador to Germany Andriy Melnyk said that Germany intends to deliver Panzerhaubitze 2000 howitzers to Ukraine around 22 June.