Germany Already Transferred Nine IRIS-T SAMs to Ukraine

Germany has already transferred nine IRIS-T air defense systems to Ukraine and expects to deliver new systems in the near future.

This was announced by the new German ambassador to Ukraine, Haiko Thoms, in an interview with Suspilne.

According to him, air defense is “critically important,” and Germany is currently Ukraine’s largest partner in the field of air defense systems, although it realizes that this assistance is still insufficient.

“As far as I know, more new IRIS-T systems are expected to be delivered in the near future,” the ambassador said.

Thoms also recalled that at the end of 2025, Germany transferred two additional Patriot systems to Ukraine and continues to supply ammunition for air defense systems.

“I know that this is still not enough. As I said, I also live here and understand the situation, I know the realities. But we are doing everything we can and making every effort to support Ukraine — both through direct assistance to the energy sector and through the provision of air defense systems,” said Thoms.

Earlier, Helmut Rauch, CEO of the German company Diehl Defence, said that Ukraine had ordered 18 IRIS-T systems.

The basis of the system is the IRIS-T missile with an infrared homing head, modernized for ground launch.

The target is captured in the final stage of flight thanks to the infrared homing head.

IRIS-T SLM missiles are capable of hitting targets at a distance of up to 40 km, and the SLS version can hit targets at a distance of up to 12 km.

At the same time, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius stated that Berlin could no longer transfer Patriot systems from its stocks to Ukraine, as it had already transferred more than a third of its existing arsenal, which was a “disproportionately large contribution” compared to other allies.

On December 16, 2025, Pistorius announced that Germany had transferred two Patriot systems and IRIS-T complexes to Ukraine and was planning to supply AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles.