Germany and Sweden to further bolster Ukraine’s air defenses
Ukrainian military (Photo:REUTERS/Anna Kudriavtseva)
Germany and Sweden are negotiating a new arms package, under which Stockholm will transfer anti-air missiles and launchers for German-made IRIS-T air defense systems to Ukraine, Bloomberg reported on Feb. 3, citing sources familiar with the matter.
According to the sources who preferred to stay unnamed as the discussions are confidential, Germany has asked Sweden to provide IRIS-T launchers. The negotiations will also allow for more ammunition to be supplied to complement the anti-air systems, which are being sent to Kyiv.
Berlin is reportedly sticking to its plan to send three additional IRIS-T systems this year, with the first arriving in October, the sources said.
Swedish and German defense ministries were not immediately available for comment.
On Oct. 11, Germany handed over the first IRIS-T air defense system, of the four that Berlin pledged to Ukraine.
On Oct. 24, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced that Germany would transfer three additional IRIS-T air defense systems to Ukraine “as soon as possible.” Before that, the former head of the German Defense Ministry, Christine Lambrecht, said that Kyiv would receive three more IRIS-T air defense systems in 2023.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News
