Tuesday December 03, 2024

Germany further strengthens Ukrainian air defence system

Published : 18 Aug 2023, 00:33

DF News Desk

An Iris-T missile defense system stands on the premises of Diehl Defence in Ueberlingen. File Photo: Christoph Schmidt/dpa.

Germany has delivered further military equipment to Ukraine, including two short-range launchers for the Iris-T air defence system, reported dpa.

Ten Ground Observer 12 (GO 12) radar systems and more than 4,000 smoke grenades of NATO's 155-millimetre calibre were also sent to Ukraine, according to the German government's list of military aid, which was updated on Thursday.

Ukrainian logistics will be strengthened with four heavy trucks and associated trailers as well as eight interchangeable loader systems.

In 2023 alone, this will bring German military support to Ukraine to around €5.4 billion ($5.88 billion).

Ukraine has been fending off a full-scale Russian invasion for over 17 months with massive Western assistance. After the United States, Germany is one of the main military supporters of the Eastern European country.

"Many thanks to our partners for IRIS-T. Our sky will be more protected," the head of Ukraine's presidential office, Andriy Yermak, wrote on social media.

The new German-made IRIS-T is not yet in use in the Bundeswehr, but has already proven its worth in Ukraine's air defence.