Germany hands over second Iris-T-SLM air defense system to Ukraine in addition to Patriot - Süddeutsche Zeitung

This was reported to the Süddeutsche Zeitung by government sources. A government spokeswoman also confirmed the information.

In total, Ukraine would like to receive at least ten such systems. However, these are the latest weapons and are not yet available in Germany.

The newspaper confirms that Germany has also transferred the Patriot defense system to Ukraine, which has already arrived to the country.

The Süddeutsche Zeitung writes that in order to provide Ukraine with the best possible defense against air attacks, negotiations are underway with Sweden to supply mobile launchers. According to government circles, these devices from the Swedish army could be easily combined with the system, and Iris-T missiles could then also be launched from Ukraine.

The Bundeswehr is considering supplying its own Iris-T-SLS missiles, but they have a shorter range and are used, for example, in Eurofighter fighters. However, this would require an agreement with Sweden on launch sites.

The Iris-T SLM can fire at targets up to 40 kilometers away and 20 kilometers upwards, so it can create a very large missile defense screen. The problem is that the missiles are extremely expensive and scarce - they cost about 600 thousand euros each.

• On March 2, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz promised that Ukraine would receive another batch of Gepard self-propelled artillery systems and Iris-T in the coming weeks.

• Ukraine received the first such system in October. According to Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko, the system has helped to better protect the territory of Kyiv, save lives and protect power plants from even more fatal failures. According to Klitschko, the system is 100% effective.

• On April 18, the German government announced that over the past week it had handed over a Patriot anti-aircraft missile system with missiles and special vehicles to Ukraine. The next day, Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov confirmed that they had already arrived in Ukraine.