IRIA News

Germany to provide Ukraine with additional Patriot air defense systems as Russia intensifies attacks on Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced after holding talks with German Chancellor Scholz on April 13.

Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy said that he and Scholz agreed on the delivery of an additional Patriot system, adding that “We are also working with Germany on an additional IRIS-T system, which is also a strong air defense system, and on missiles for our existing air defense systems.”

According to the Presidential Office of Ukraine, Zelenskyy thanked German Chancellor Olaf for providing military equipment and strengthening Ukraine’s air defense capabilities. He said, “Germany’s leadership is truly felt, and thanks to this leadership, we will be able to save thousands of lives and give Ukraine more protection from Russian terror.”

Ukraine and Germany are preparing for the Ukraine Recovery Conference which will be held in Germany. Zelenskyy highlighted that “Together we will do everything to make the Global Peace Summit a real success.”

Ukraine has intensified efforts to secure its defense needs as Zelenskyy held talks and meetings with several European partners including presidents of Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Romania, Poland, Hungary, Switzerland, and Latvia as well as prime ministers of the Netherlands, Greece, Portugal, and Ireland.

Zelenskyy highlighted that “A new bilateral security agreement was signed with Latvia,” as Ukraine is working with all partners who can help Kyiv fight the Russian forces. “We are working with partners, particularly in the United States, to strengthen our actions. Glory to everyone who prevents Russian terrorists from achieving their goals,” the Ukrainian president added.

Germany’s support to Ukraine

Last week Germany announced that the government has tasked defense manufacturer Rheinmetall to deliver 20 additional Marder infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine. The 1A3 Marder variant equipped with integrated laser range finders, which enable efficient and precise target elimination, will be delivered to Ukraine in 2024. Rheinmetall has already delivered more than 100 Marder infantry fighting vehicles to the Ukrainian Armed Forces through direct deliveries and circular exchange programs.

Earlier this year, Germany announced a military package for Ukraine that included deliveries of Marder armored vehicles, tanks, 155mm artillery, small arms ammunition, mine-clearing and bridge-laying tanks, ground surveillance radars, trucks, assault rifles, and other equipment.

Germany has provided Ukraine with advanced defense equipment including Leopard tanks, TRML-4D air surveillance radars, drone detection systems, and artillery and munitions. Germany has also sent its latest Oerlikon Skynex, an anti-aircraft system designed by Rheinmetall for short-range defense. The Skynex system can defend against large tactical drones, air-to-ground missiles, mortars, and artillery rockets. The system consists of a 3D target-acquisition radar, which can identify aerial threats within a 50-kilometer range.

In February 2024, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Berlin to meet German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and signed a long-term security deal with Germany. The long-term security cooperation and support agreement between Germany and Ukraine is valid for 10 years and defines priorities in international cooperation in the military, political, financial, and humanitarian spheres.

The treaty stipulates Germany’s “unwavering support” for Ukraine’s territorial integrity and promises to help the country defend itself against aggression. The document also pledges more than $7.5 billion in German defense support for Ukraine this year.

Patriot air defense system

Ukraine received its first U.S.-made Patriot missile systems through Germany and the air defense system became operational on April 23, 2023. Patriot is one of the most advanced air defense weapons in the U.S. arsenal.

The Patriot has a more powerful radar that is better at discriminating targets than the Soviet-era S-300 system the Ukrainians have been using. The system is often deployed as a battalion, which includes four batteries, however, it is highly unlikely that the U.S. delivered as many missiles to Ukraine to be deployed in the form of battalions.

According to Raytheon, the U.S.-based defense giant and manufacturer of the Patriot missile systems, it has a success rate of at least 70%. Raytheon also claims that the missile system has been involved in 150 intercepts of ballistic missiles since 2015.

IRIS-T air defense system

IRIS-T air defense system has a range of about 40 kilometers and 360-degree aerial attack detection capabilities. The defense system was first introduced in 2014. According to Diehl, the system is most effective as part of a “layered air defense,” combined with the U.S.-made Patriot PAC-3 missile defense system, which has a higher altitude air defense system.

Last year in October Germany provided the third unit of the ground-based IRIS-T SLM air defense system together with missiles for the system and TRML-4D air surveillance radar to Ukraine. The German IRIS-T units are mainly being used by the Ukrainian forces to counter Russian missile and drone attacks.

As a medium-range air defense system, the IRIS-T has its weaknesses against more powerful arms. The air defense system is powerless against Russia’s Kinzhal hypersonic missiles as this threat requires a more powerful antidote, such as the U.S.-made Patriot system.

Before Russia invaded Ukraine, only a few Western nations had purchased the system, reflecting a common trend after the Cold War to scale down air defenses believing the threat had largely diminished. However, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the demand for air defense systems has seen a sharp increase.

In 2023, German defense manufacturer Diehl Defense announced its plans to increase the production of the IRIS-T air defense systems amid increasing weapons demand in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine war. Diehl aims to build at least eight new systems by the end of 2025 and will produce three to four systems each year following that. The German defense firm also plans to increase the missile production for the IRIS-T system and is expected to produce 400 to 500 missiles each year from 2024.