Germany Confirms Delivery of 7 IRIS-T Systems to Ukraine, 11 More on Order

Ukraine has placed an order for 18 IRIS-T SLM air defense systems from Germany. Seven of these systems have already been delivered, while the remaining 11 are expected to arrive at a later stage, according to an interview with European Pravda published on July 28.

Ukrainian Ambassador to Germany, Oleksii Makeiev, explained that each of the ordered systems currently in production consists of a combination of medium- and short-range launchers.

“Each system includes three SLM (medium-range) launchers and two SLS (short-range) launchers,” the diplomat said. “This is a single complex,” he added.

Speaking on the topic of Patriot air defense systems, Ambassador Makeiev said the total number of systems Ukraine could receive through German support is still being determined.

“We first asked the Germans to buy two systems for us in the United States,” he noted. “After the meeting in Ramstein, it was publicly announced that the partners were trying to find five systems. However, in reality, we need 10 or more.”

Makeiev added that the figure refers to a broader commitment by several European countries working to support Ukraine’s air defense capabilities.

“I think it will become known who financed how much. First of all, we are talking about orders, i.e. production. However, it is possible that someone will agree to give the existing system back earlier in order to receive a new one from the factory,” he concluded.

Previously, it was reported that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that diplomatic channels to resolve Russia’s war against Ukraine have been exhausted, signaling a shift toward a more forceful stance as Moscow continues its military escalation.

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