Asger Risom
The video, released in mid-December, underlines once again how Western-supplied systems are shaping the air war.
Fresh battlefield footage from Ukraine shows a familiar pattern repeating itself. A Russian drone enters contested airspace, Ukrainian air defences respond, and the encounter ends decisively.
The video, released in mid-December, underlines once again how Western-supplied systems are shaping the air war.
Interception footage
According to footage shared by Ukraine’s Air Force Command “West,” a German-made IRIS-T air defence system successfully intercepted a Russian Shahed drone during one of Russia’s large-scale air attacks in December. The video shows the target being tracked and destroyed before it could reach its destination.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defence confirmed earlier this month on X that Germany had delivered another IRIS-T battery to the front. The system had just been assigned to the “West” Air Force Command, the same unit that released the latest recording.
That command has previously reported the destruction of a wide range of Russian aerial threats, including Shahed drones, Kh-101 cruise missiles and Iskander-K missiles. In this case, officials said the intercepted target was another Shahed drone.
German support
Ukrainian forces have repeatedly highlighted IRIS-T as one of the most valuable tools in defending key infrastructure. Alongside US-made Patriot systems and the NASAMS platform, it forms the backbone of Ukraine’s medium-range air defence.
The effectiveness of IRIS-T depends on the variant in use. The SLM version can engage targets at distances of up to about 40 kilometres, while the shorter-range SLS variant reaches roughly 10 kilometres. Differences in radar and missile configurations shape how each version is deployed.
According to Ukrainian personnel, the system represents a major step forward from older Soviet-era equipment.
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Exceeding expectations
Ukrainian soldiers quoted by the Air Force Command compared IRIS-T directly with systems they previously operated.
“It’s a modern and highly effective weapon. Before IRIS-T, we were working on the Buk M1. […] IRIS-T exceeded all our expectations. We learned it well,” they said.
As Russia continues to rely heavily on drones and missile strikes, videos like this serve both a military and symbolic role. They demonstrate battlefield performance while reinforcing Kyiv’s message that continued Western support translates directly into airspace protection.
