Germany to send another IRIS-T air defense system to Ukraine – Ambassador
Photo: IRIS-T air defense system (Getty Images)
Ukraine has already received 7 IRIS-T air defense systems from Germany. Another one is being prepared for delivery, Ukrainian Ambassador to Germany Oleksii Makeiev says.
According to the Ambassador, Germany continues to supply Ukraine with the IRIS-T air defense systems it needs. He notes that 7 systems have already been delivered, and the 8th is on the way.
"7 systems have already arrived, the eighth is arriving," Makeyev said.
In addition, Berlin has already supplied Ukraine with over 60 Gepard anti-aircraft self-propelled artillery systems, which have proven to be extremely effective in combating kamikaze drones, in particular the Shahed type.
"We have been supplied with over 60 Gepards. That is, most of the gepards that could be caught in the forests of the whole world have already been caught, and they are grazing in Ukrainian pastures," the diplomat jokes.
However, Makeiev adds that the Russian tactics of using the Shaheds have changed, which creates new challenges for air defense systems.
He also mentions the German Skynex anti-aircraft artillery complex, which is showing good results in the Ukrainian Air Force.
According to the Ambassador, Kyiv and Berlin already have the first developments on the joint production of additional air defense systems.
"Moreover, there are already the first ideas between representatives of the defense industry of Ukraine and Germany to jointly build additional air defense systems. That is, to take a gun from Rheinmetall, put it on a different chassis, and also incorporate missile systems," he says.
IRIS-T for Ukraine
Germany is already providing Ukraine with its IRIS-T air defense systems. They help to effectively protect the Ukrainian sky during massive Russian strikes.
Earlier, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, also announced the receipt of new IRIS-T air defense systems from Germany. According to him, the delivery plan is designed for 3 years.
At the same time, on May 28, Ukraine and Germany signed a contract for the production of IRIS-T and missiles for them. Its total cost is 2.2 billion euros.
On June 7, it became known that one IRIS-T battery shot down eight Russian missiles in just 30 seconds.
