Germany To Bolster Ukraine Air Defense With Patriot And IRIS-T Sets
This week Germany announced a significant boost to Ukraine’s air defense capabilities with the delivery of additional IRIS-T missile systems in addition to a another Patriot system. This move is part of a broader support package that also includes Gepard anti-aircraft systems, missiles, and artillery munitions. The announcement was made by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz during the Ukraine Recovery Conference held in Berlin on June 11.
The provision of these advanced air defense systems marks Germany’s continued commitment to supporting Ukraine amid its ongoing conflict with Russia. The transfer will include Germany’s third Patriot system, which is renowned for its capability to intercept aircraft, drones, and ballistic missiles, providing a critical shield for Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.
The IRIS-T system is designed for short to medium-range air defense, offering enhanced protection against various aerial threats. Two variants are provided in the package the short range SLS and the medium range SLM. This addition is expected to significantly bolster Ukraine’s air defenses, especially in light of recent escalations in missile and drone attacks by Russian forces. Russia is currently waging a war of attrition against Ukraine and with the capacity to manufacture up to 100 missiles per month, it can easily oversaturate existing Ukrainian air defense.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz said, during remarks at the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2024, that:
“The most urgent need of the Ukrainian army now is ammunition, weapons, especially air defense. Therefore, over the next weeks and months, we will provide Ukraine with the third Patriot system, IRIS-T and Gepard systems, missiles and ammunition”
Ukraine has proven an adept user of Patriot, of which Germany has already supplied two launchers and an undis lord number of missiles. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated in Berlin during his speech, at the conference, that Ukraine needed at least 7 Patriot batteries to defend its major cities and key infrastructure.
Chancellor Scholz emphasized the strategic importance of this military aid, calling on other nations to join Germany in enhancing Ukraine’s defense capabilities. He highlighted that this support is not only crucial for Ukraine’s sovereignty but also for the stability and security of Europe as a whole.
The delivery of these systems is set to occur over the coming weeks and months, aligning with Germany’s broader strategy of providing sustained and comprehensive military aid to Ukraine. This package follows previous deliveries of Leopard tanks, MARS II anti-aircraft missiles, and other vital military equipment. Despite the German government’s sometimes fraught approach to aiding Ukraine, German aid is second only to the US and valuable German-supplied systems have been delivered and widely utilized by Ukraine.
In recent months the need for anti-air defense systems has been a real issue for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The destruction of Patriot missile launchers and depletion of ex-Soviet missile stocks led to temporary free reign for Russian aviation forces which attacked the ZSU mercilessly in several locations.
This latest commitment from Germany underscores the growing military cooperation between the two countries and reinforces Germany’s role as a key ally in Ukraine’s defense against Russian aggression. This month the decision was passed to agree for domestic production of KF-41 Lynx IFV in Ukraine.
Alongside German declarations for aid delivery, the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte announced a Dutch humanitarian and infrastructural aid for Ukraine worth 138 million EUR.