Germany to provide Ukraine with new IRIS-T air defense systems in near future – Ambassador
Illustrative photo: Germany to provide Ukraine with new IRIS-T air defense systems (Getty Images)
Germany will provide Ukraine with new IRIS-T air defense systems in the near future. This is critically important assistance for protecting Ukraine’s skies, states German Ambassador to Ukraine Heiko Thoms in an interview with Suspilne.
The German ambassador said that nine IRIS-T systems had already been delivered and that additional systems were expected to arrive in the near future.
He noted that ensuring reliable air defense is critically important for the country’s security, adding that Germany is currently Ukraine’s largest partner in this area.
Thoms added that everything possible was being done to support Ukraine, emphasizing a comprehensive approach ranging from energy assistance to the supply of air defense systems.
Earlier, Germany transferred two Patriot systems to Ukraine in late 2025 and continues to supply ammunition for air defense systems.
Ukraine has ordered 18 IRIS-T systems, according to Helmut Rauch, CEO of the German company Diehl Defense.
Air defense for Ukraine
Ukraine’s Head of Mission to NATO, Alyona Getmanchuk, said that Ukraine is receiving air defense systems from the United States with EU financing.
About 75% of missiles for Patriot systems are supplied to Ukraine through the PURL program. For other air defense systems, the share is even higher, with nearly 90% of interceptors delivered under the same scheme.
She noted that Ukraine had to make significant diplomatic efforts to persuade certain European countries to purchase US-made weapons specifically to meet Ukraine’s needs.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Minister of Defense Mykhailo Fedorov said after talks with his French counterpart Catherine Vautrin that Ukraine could soon receive a batch of French air defense missiles, as well as Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets.
