Germany handed over to Ukraine the first IRIS-T air defense system.

Oleksii Reznikov, Ukrainian Defense Minister, announced this.

The anti-aircraft missile system was transferred to the Armed Forces on Tuesday, October 11.

“A new era of air defense has begun in Ukraine. Germany’s IRIS-T is here. NASAMS air defense systems from the United States are approaching,” Reznikov shared on Twitter.

The Minister stressed that “this is just the beginning,” and that Ukraine needs more air defense to protect itself against Russia, which is a terrorist state.

The IRIS-T SLM is the most modern German-made air defense system – even the German Armed Forces do not yet have it at their disposal.

It was developed by the German Diehl Defence defense company.

It was previously reported that by the end of the year, Ukraine should receive two new IRIS-T anti-aircraft missile systems.

In general, Germany plans to transfer 4 such systems to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Two of them were scheduled to be transferred in early 2023.

IRIS-T is a German medium-range anti-aircraft missile system (SAM).

The system is designed to destroy cruise and ballistic missiles, as well as aircraft, helicopters, and UAVs.

The basis for this air defense system is the modified air-to-air IRIS-T missile.

There are medium and small radius modifications. The IRIS-T SLM allows hitting the aerial targets at a distance of up to 40 km, and with the “shorter” SLS version – up to 25 km.

Launchers can be based on a wheeled (MAN 8×8) or tracked chassis (two-section all-terrain BvS10 vehicle) and contain 4 or 8 containers with missiles for vertical launch.

The primary means of detecting aerial objects is the CEAFAR GBMMR radar with active phased antenna grates. The system can also operate with the German TRML-4D radar (Hensoldt), which detects aerial targets at a distance of up to 250 km.

In June 2022, Ukraine signed a contract with Diehl Defense to purchase the IRIS-T SL anti-aircraft missile system. The deal is funded by the German government.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky shared that Ukraine expects the supply of SAMP-T SAM from France and Italy.