On April 26, 2023, the German Ministry of Defense updated the list of military aid to Ukraine and confirms the delivery of a second IRIS-T SLM air defense system to the Ukrainian armed forces as well as 84 Zetros trucks and two load-handling trucks 8×6 with 8 roll-off containers.
Citing urgent requests from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, air defense systems remain a top priority in defending the country against the Russian invasion. Indeed, every day, the Russian armed forces target Ukrainian army positions and major cities using drones, missiles, and aerial attacks with aircraft and helicopters.
Russian forces have significantly increased their air attacks on major Ukrainian cities since April 28. Over 20 cruise missiles and two drones targeted Kyiv and other parts of the country, resulting in explosions in central cities such as Kremenchuk and Poltava, as well as Mykolaiv in the south, according to Interfax Ukraine news agency.
The IRIS-T SLM (Surface Launched Missile) is a ground-based air defense system developed by Diehl Defence, a German company. It is derived from the IRIS-T (InfraRed Imaging System-Tail/Thrust Vector-Controlled) air-to-air missile, which is used by various countries’ air forces. The IRIS-T SLM is designed to provide short to medium-range defense against a range of aerial threats, including aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).