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IRIS-T ground launcher. Source: Diehl
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announces the transfer of another IRIS-T SLM air defense system to Ukraine. The Ukrainian army will also receive a Gepard SPAAG self-propelled artillery system.
Scholz made the statement at a briefing on December 19 after a European Council meeting in Brussels. "Another IRIS-T system is currently being delivered, I think today, as well as the Gepard SPAAG, which we continue to deliver along with all the ammunition that we have resumed production of," he said.
As German Aid to Ukraine points out, Scholz's statement "would be in line with previous announcements" that the sixth IRIS-T SLM launcher, as well as two additional IRIS-T SLS launchers promised by Germany, will be delivered to Ukraine by the end of 2024.
The SLS and SLM variants of the system differ in chassis, missiles, and range of interception of air targets, Militarnyi writes.
What is known about the IRIS-T air defense system
IRIS-T is a German anti-aircraft missile system designed for air and missile defense. The manufacturer is the German company Diehl Defense. The IRIS-T SLM has a medium range and is designed to destroy airplanes, helicopters, UAVs, and cruise missiles at a distance of up to 40 km. Its development was completed in 2014.
The IRIS-T SLS variant has a short range. It is also designed to combat airplanes, helicopters, UAVs, cruise and ballistic missiles of short range, but at distances of up to 25 km.
In September, Scholz said that Ukraine had already received seven IRIS-T systems, which helped it shoot down more than 250 Russian missiles and UAVs. At the time, he also said that Germany had ordered 17 more units for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Four were scheduled to be delivered by the end of this year, and the rest – next year.
Before that, Reuters reported that Germany had decided to supply six IRIS-Ts to Ukraine by the end of the year.
As reported by OBOZ.UA, in late November, the German Defense Ministry promised to transfer two IRIS-T systems to Ukraine by the end of 2024: SLM and SLS.
In October, Germany had already announced the transfer of one SLM and one SLS.
On November 13, following a conversation with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Scholz announced the transfer of the sixth of the planned IRIS-T systems to Ukraine by the end of the year.
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