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Russia destroys German Iris-T defense system in Ukraine!
Russia reports the destruction of a German Iris-T anti-aircraft system in Ukraine by an Iskander missile.
Russia destroys German Iris-T defense system in Ukraine!
Russia has announced that it has destroyed an Iris-T air defense system supplied by Germany in Ukraine. The incident is said to have occurred in the Dnipropetrovsk region due to an impact from an Iskander rocket. This information was released by the Russian Ministry of Defense in the form of a video clip intended to show the impact. However, it remains unclear whether the authenticity of the recordings can be independently verified. Russian authorities claim that the attack destroyed the radar station, rocket launcher, control center and two support vehicles, indicating the effectiveness of the attack.
The Iris-T is a modern, short-range anti-aircraft complex designed primarily to protect large cities in the hinterland of Ukraine. Since the beginning of the Russian invasion, Germany has delivered a total of six Iris-T batteries to Ukraine to strengthen its air defense. Despite this support, Kiev has not yet commented on a request about the destruction of the specific system. In the conflicts, both sides also use dummy weapon systems to deceive their opponents, which makes it even more difficult to assess the situation.
The Iris-T complex
The Iris-T was originally developed by Germany in the 1990s and has since become one of the most advanced anti-aircraft systems of its kind. According to Wikipedia, the Iris-T system is a 5th generation IR-guided missile defense system with a variety of advanced features, including the ability to attack targets behind the launching aircraft with extreme agility and even shoot down other air-to-air and surface-to-air missiles.
Development of the Iris-T began in response to the needs of modern air warfare, with first delivery to the German Air Force in 2005. In the years that followed, the system was further developed into several variants, including the IRIS-T SLS and IRIS-T SLM, which offer expanded operational capabilities against various threats. In particular, the IRIS-T SLM has recently gained importance as it is part of the NATO MEADS program.
Germany has increased production of these systems to meet increasing demand from Ukraine. By October 2023, the IRIS-T systems in Ukraine had already recorded 240 kills with a nearly 100% success rate, proving their effectiveness. In November 2023, Germany announced that it would provide Ukraine with four additional IRIS-T SLM systems as part of a military aid package.
The continued supply of these advanced systems to Ukraine is a sign of Germany's support in this conflict as Russia increasingly seeks to neutralize these air defense measures. The latest incident is therefore not only a military act, but also a significant element in the larger context of the Ukraine war and calls into question the fragility of the current security situation in the region.