Germany boosts Ukraine's defense with $88m IRIS-T missile deal
Germany has announced that it will provide Ukraine with IRIS-T missiles worth approximately CAD 88 million. These missiles are key components of Ukraine's air defence. Here’s what they are and what their capabilities include.
Germany will supply Ukraine with another batch of IRIS-T missiles for air defence systems. This involves at least 60 missiles with a total value of approximately CAD 88 million, which will be sourced from the stocks of the German Armed Forces. These are likely IRIS-T missiles for the IRIS-T SLS systems.
These missiles are one of the newest short-range systems capable of targeting even stealth cruise missiles like the Ch-101. These are particularly challenging for Ukrainians, especially when combined with swarms of Shahed drones acting as decoys for air defence.
IRIS-T SLS — Germany's economical solution against Russian missiles and drones
There are currently at least seven batteries of the IRIS-T SL air defence system in Ukraine, whose tests were completed only in 2024. It comes in two variants SLM and SLS, the former based on IRIS-T SL missiles featuring a larger rocket engine that allows targeting at distances of up to 40 kilometres, and the latter SLS based on shorter airborne IRIS-T missiles with a range of over 10 kilometres.
This concept of using missiles intended for aircraft is similar to the Norwegian NASAMS system, which simplifies logistics in case of shortages. In such a situation, the battery can be resupplied from aviation stocks.
The IRIS-T missile, co-developed by Germany, Greece, Norway, Sweden, Italy, and, for some time, Canada, is the main striking tool for the SLS system. This missile, succeeding the AIM-9 Sidewinder, partly bases its design on the Soviet Vympel R-73 missile, borrowing thrust vectoring technology.
The IRIS-T has been in service with the Luftwaffe since 2005, with a range of about 25 kilometres at high altitudes, where the air is thinner. The missile is equipped with an advanced infrared optoelectronic seeker with an FPA matrix that detects the thermal image of the target, making it immune to countermeasures such as flares.
Additionally, the missile uses advanced algorithms that allow for attack simulation, causing the aircraft to lose some energy before making the actual attack. At the MPSO fair, the manufacturer informed us that IRIS-T can handle g-forces exceeding 60 G and can shoot down other medium-range air-to-air missiles, such as the R-77 Vympel or AIM-120 AMRAAM, setting it apart from the competition.
IRIS-T is considered one of the best missiles in the world, as confirmed by reports from the crews of some batteries indicating a 100% success rate in intercepts.
