Jens Asbjørn Bøgen
Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine is “grateful”.
Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy said that the new supplies will be “very important assistance”.
Also read: Top U.S. General Clashes with Trump: “Putin Won’t Stop at Ukraine”
What is happening?
Russia has ramped up it’s terror bombing of Ukraine, sending swarms of drones and missiles over the last weeks.
Ukraine calls for aid
Ukraine has continued to ask for air defense-systems in order to protect the population as well as military infrastructure with the American Patriot-system being on top of the wish list.
Doubts about American support
Since Donald Trump took office, fear is that the US will stop it’s military aid to Ukraine, meaning Patriot-systems might not be coming.
But now, Ukraine is getting something just as good.
Meet IRIS-T
During a news conference in Kyiv on Thursdagy June 12, German Defense Minister, Boris Pistorious, and Zelenskyy announced that Germany will supply Ukraine with IRIS-T air defense systems under a three-year supply plan.
What is IRIS-T?
IRIS-T is short for Infrafred Imaging System Tail/Thrust. It’s a family of short range infrared homing air-to-air and medium range surface-to-air missiles.
The air-to-air version has an operational range of 25 kilometres (16 miles) and the surface-to-air version has an operational range of 40 kilometres (25 miles).
For comparison, the Patriot-system has an operational range of 160 kilometres (99 miles)
No Taurus’ coming
Ukraine has previously expressed a desire to get the German-produced long-range Taurus-missiles that have an operational rane of over 500 kilometres (310 miles).
But Pistorious made it clear, that Taurus’ will not be supllied to Ukraine by Germany.
“Very important assistance”
According to Kyiv Independent, Zenelskyy said at the press conference:
“We are grateful for the supply of IRIS-T air defense systems. We understand that deliveries are currently being planned… for the next three years. This is very important assistance.”