Scholz: Germany sends sixth IRIS-T air defense system to Ukraine

20 December, 2024 The IRIS-T SLM anti-aircraft missile launcher is based on a MAN truck. Photo from open source Germany has sent the sixth IRIS-T air defense system to Ukraine as part of military assistance.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced this at a briefing after a meeting of the European Council in Brussels. The monitoring project German Aid to Ukraine reported about this on the social network X (Twitter). It is worth noting that Scholz did not specify which system he had been talking about - SLS or SLM.

The systems differ in chassis, missiles and range of interception of air targets.

An IRIS-T SLS and a SLM air defense system.

Photo credits: Diehl

The transfer of the SAMs was announced in November by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi after a conversation with the German Chancellor. In October, Germany supplied Ukraine with the IRIS-T SLM medium-range air defense system and the IRIS-T SLS short-range air defense system. As previously reported, by the end of this year, the Ukrainian Defense Forces were to receive two IRIS-T SLM air defense systems and two IRIS-T SLS systems.

Also in September, Olaf Scholz announced the contracting of a total of 17 units of the IRIS-T air defense system for the needs of Ukraine.

IRIS-T SLM

The launcher from the IRIS-T SLM SAM is in position. Photo credits: Diehl

The IRIS-T SLM system is designed to destroy planes, helicopters and UAVs, as well as cruise missiles. It can engage air targets at a distance of up to 40 km.

The system has demonstrated its effectiveness in Ukraine.

IRIS-T SLS

Ukraine received the first IRIS-T SLS short-range air defense systems from Germany in August last year.

The IRIS-T SLS launcher on the Unimog U 5000 wheeled chassis

The system is designed to intercept enemy aircraft, helicopters and UAVs.

In the SLS version, it is capable of intercepting aerodynamic targets at a distance of up to 12 kilometers and at an altitude of up to 8 kilometers.

The system is based on the IRIS-T missile with an infrared homing head that has been modernized for ground launch.