Ukraine orders 18 IRIS-T air defense systems from Germany
IRIS-T launcher (Photo: Ukraine's General Staff/Facebook)
Ukraine’s government has ordered 18 IRIS-T air defense systems from Germany’s Diehl Defence, CEO Helmut Rauch told German public broadcaster Deutsche Welle on Jan. 23.
Rauch noted that nine IRIS-T launchers are already in use in Ukraine, and officials in Kyiv have expressed interest in acquiring additional units.
Diehl Defence plans to significantly expand production of its IRIS-T SLM and IRIS-T SLS launchers.
“We are on track to build up to 10 launchers this year,” Rauch said.
“Over the medium term, we plan to increase output to 16 launchers within about two years. If demand from our customers grows, we can boost production even further.”
Rauch also announced that Diehl engineers are developing the IRIS-T SLX missile, which will have an 80-kilometer range, double the current 40 kilometers offered by existing IRIS-T series. The German government has already shown interest in the new missile, and Egypt has placed an order, he added.
On Dec. 16, 2025, Germany’s Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said Ukraine had received two Patriot air defense systems promised in August, as well as its ninth IRIS-T launcher. Pistorius also announced that in 2026 Germany will transfer a significant number of AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles from its stockpiles to Ukraine.
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