Germany provides IRIS-T air defense system to Ukraine

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz – Photo: REUTERS

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Germany had “constantly delivered weapons since the beginning of the war”, including more than 15 million magazines, 100,000 grenades and more than 5,000 anti-tank mines.

“The government decided to deliver the most modern air defense system that Germany has, the IRIS-T,” Scholz said on June 1.

IRIS-T is a surface-to-air defense system with a maximum range of 40km, a maximum height of 20km, which is expected to significantly improve the country’s air defense capabilities. Ukraine before Russia.

The IRIS-T consists of a truck-mounted missile system with a versatile radar, capable of tracking multiple targets simultaneously and designed to intercept fighter jets, attack helicopters, cruise missiles, howitzers, drones, anti-radar missiles and bombs.

According to Reuters news agency, the delivery of the IRIS-T system marks one of the major changes in German foreign policy.

Previously, Germany was wary of supplying heavy weapons to Ukraine for fear of escalating tensions with Russia.

Ukraine’s demand for heavy weapons has increased in recent weeks as Moscow has brought its heaviest firepower into action after failing to capture the capital, Kiev.

Scholz said he was still in talks with Germany’s allies on how to help Ukraine.

On May 31, Scholz announced that Germany would deliver infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) to Greece, so that Athens could transfer Soviet-era weapons to Ukraine.