Ukraine first to get latest IRIS-T air defence systems

Ukraine will be the first country in the world to receive the latest IRIS-T anti-aircraft missile systems.

The remarks came from Ukraine Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ignat on October 7, Ukrinform reports.

“Ukraine is the first country to use IRIS. NASAMS, of course, this has long been heard, we will expect. Indeed, the specialists who will use them are already gaining some experience and undergoing some training. We are looking forward to strengthening our air defence system, at least a small number of these systems, but we will expect large deliveries,” Ignat said.

The IRIS-T SLM is a ground-based air defence system developed by the Germany-based Diehl Defense based on a MAN SX 45 (8x8) chassis with modified IRIS-T short-range guided missiles with an infrared homing head, equipped with a powerful engine. The firing range from a vertical launcher is up to 40 km, defeat is 20 km. It can hit aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, rocket artillery, drones, anti-radar missiles and bombs.

Earlier, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a joint meeting with the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen with media representatives said that there were positive results in negotiations with German partners regarding the supply of NASAMS and IRIS-T.