Germany strengthens Ukraine's defence with IRIS-T missiles
Germany has announced it will supply Ukraine with IRIS-T missiles valued at 60 million euros. These missiles are a key component of Ukraine's air defence. Here's an overview of their features and capabilities.
Germany will provide Ukraine with an additional batch of IRIS-T missiles for air defence systems. This delivery will include at least 60 missiles, with a total value of 60 million euros, sourced from the German Armed Forces' stockpiles. These are likely intended for the IRIS-T SLS systems.
The IRIS-T is one of the latest short-range systems capable of targeting advanced stealth cruise missiles like the Ch-101. These have posed significant challenges for Ukrainians, particularly when deployed alongside swarms of Shahed drones, which act as decoys for air defence.
IRIS-T SLS — Germany's economical solution against Russian missiles and drones
Currently, there are at least seven batteries of the IRIS-T SL air defence system in Ukraine, whose testing was completed in 2024. It comes in two variants: SLM and SLS. The former is based on IRIS-T SL missiles with a larger engine, allowing targeting at distances up to 40 kilometres, while the latter uses the shorter-range airborne IRIS-T missiles capable of reaching over 10 kilometres.
This concept of deploying aircraft-intended missiles is similar to the Norwegian NASAMS system, which simplifies logistics in case of shortages. In such instances, the battery can be resupplied from aviation stocks.
The IRIS-T missile was co-developed by Germany, Greece, Norway, Sweden, Italy, and, at one time, Canada. It serves as the main weapon for the SLS system. This missile, which succeeded the AIM-9 Sidewinder, partly bases its design on the Soviet Vympel R-73 missile, incorporating thrust vectoring technology.
The IRIS-T has been in service with the Luftwaffe since 2005, with a range of about 25 kilometres at high altitudes, where the air is thinner. It is equipped with an advanced infrared optoelectronic seeker with an FPA matrix, which sees the thermal image of the target, making it immune to countermeasures like flares.
Additionally, the missile employs advanced algorithms for attack simulation, causing the aircraft to lose some energy before the actual attack. At the MPSO fair, the manufacturer indicated that the IRIS-T can withstand g-forces exceeding 60 G and can intercept other medium-range air-to-air missiles, such as the R-77 Vympel or AIM-120 AMRAAM, distinguishing it from its competitors.
The IRIS-T is regarded as one of the world's leading missiles, with reports from battery crews suggesting a 100% success rate in intercepts.
