Ukraine continues to strengthen its air defense network with the support of international partners, as Germany has delivered a ninth IRIS-T air defense missile system. The transfer was previously announced by Ukrainian Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal and later confirmed on the website of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.
The latest delivery further reinforces Ukraine's layered air defense architecture at a time when russian forces continue to rely on missiles, drones, and aircraft to strike critical infrastructure and civilian targets. Germany has emerged as one of Ukraine's key suppliers of advanced air defense systems since the start of russia's full-scale invasion.
Read more: F-16 Modernization Delays Spark Poland's Complaints
The IRIS-T is a modern German-made surface-to-air missile system developed by Diehl Defense. It is designed to engage a wide range of aerial threats, including fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles, and cruise missiles, making it a versatile element of Ukraine's defensive capabilities.
A defining feature of the IRIS-T system is its highly maneuverable interceptor missile. Equipped with an advanced infrared seeker, the missile can distinguish real targets from decoys and countermeasures, allowing it to engage threats both head-on and in pursuit. This capability is particularly important in environments saturated with electronic warfare and false targets.
Ukraine currently operates two variants of the IRIS-T system. The short-range IRIS-T SLS version can engage targets at distances of up to 12 kilometers and altitudes of up to 8 kilometers, while the medium-range IRIS-T SLM version extends coverage to ranges of up to 40 kilometers and altitudes of up to 20 kilometers.
These systems are integrated into Ukraine's broader air and missile defense network, allowing them to operate in coordination with other Western- and Soviet-origin platforms. Such integration improves situational awareness, target allocation, and overall interception efficiency.
As Defense Express previously reported, Ukraine's Defense Intelligence has reported a new successful strike operation carried out in temporarily occupied Crimea ahead of Christmas. According to a statement released on December 26, operators from the Prymary special unit targeted and destroyed several high-value russian military assets.
Read more: russian S-300V and Buk-M3 Air Defense Components Hit in Crimea (Video)
