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Ukrainian IRIS-T Air Defense System Downs Record Number of Missiles in Just 30 Seconds
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Ukrainian air defense forces used the German-supplied IRIS-T system to intercept eight Russian cruise missiles in just 30 seconds, preventing damage to critical infrastructure, according to the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
A commander from the launch battery of the Western Air Command’s anti-aircraft missile brigade said the missiles approached in rapid succession and were destroyed one by one using all eight interceptor missiles available on the launcher.
Each target was hit with a single guided surface-to-air missile, achieving 100% accuracy, he noted.
The military unit marks each successful engagement on the launcher itself. One IRIS-T system now bears eight consecutive tallies, representing the interception of eight missiles during a single combat engagement.
“The cruise missiles entered the kill zone one after another. We locked onto each and engaged immediately,” the commander stated. “The system allows for simultaneous targeting and engagement of multiple aerial threats, which is essential for repelling large-scale missile attacks.”
The IRIS-T system in question has reportedly intercepted over 30 aerial targets since being deployed. The battery’s personnel previously operated Soviet-era Buk-M1 systems but say the performance and capabilities of the IRIS-T exceed expectations, particularly in complex and high-intensity engagements.
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According to the Air Force, Ukraine remains the only country to have employed IRIS-T systems in real-time combat scenarios involving sustained, high-density missile attacks.
Earlier, on April 11, Germany announced it would send four additional IRIS-T air defense systems and 30 more Patriot missiles to Ukraine, according to Defense Minister Boris Pistorius during a NATO meeting in Brussels.
