New Iris-T air defense systems were prepared for Ukraine
27 May, 2023 Iris-T air defense system. A frame from the video of the Ukraine Air Force Germany prepared new IRIS-T air defense systems for Ukraine.
Oleksii Makeiev, Ukraine's ambassador to Germany, published photos featuring these systems. He noted that further contracts for IRIS-T launchers and missiles of two modifications - SLM and SLS - were signed in the city of Uberlingen on Lake Constance. The systems will soon arrive in Ukraine, the Ambassador emphasized.
The website of the German government indicates that Berlin is preparing to transfer four medium-range IRIS-T SLMs and their missiles to Ukraine. Currently, Ukraine has two such systems in service.
Oleksii Makeiev with Iris-T systems at the background. May 2023, Germany. Photo from the Ambassador's social networks
Berlin will also transfer 12 IRIS-T SLS and missiles to Ukraine.
Ukraine has not yet received systems in this modification from Germany. The system is designed to destroy cruise and ballistic missiles, as well as aircraft, helicopters, and UAVs. The modified IRIS-T air-to-air missile is the basis for this air defense system.
It has medium and small radius modifications. The IRIS-T SLM allows hitting the aerial targets at a distance of up to 40 km, and with the "shorter" SLS version - up to 25 km. Launchers can be based on a wheeled (MAN 8x8) or tracked chassis (two-section all-terrain BvS10 vehicle) and contain four or eight containers with missiles for vertical launch.
The primary means of detecting aerial objects are the CEAFAR GBMMR radar with active phased antenna grates.
The IRIS-T air defense system of the Ukrainian military. February 2023. Ukraine.
Photo credits: Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
The system can also operate with the German TRML-4D radar (Hensoldt), which detects aerial targets at a distance of up to 250 km. The Ukrainian military received the first system in October of last year. In the same month, the companies working on the production of the system were announced.
Diehl Defence is the general contractor and system integrator for IRIS-T SLM.
It is delivering the launcher along with the missiles.