Germany will increase the IRIS-T air defence systems production due to the Russia-Ukraine all-out war which has lasted over 18 months.
German arms manufacturer Diehl Defence is seeking to increase IRIS-T air defence system production to meet demand due to Russia’s war against Ukraine.
The company’s chief programme officer, Harald Buscheck, announced this decision, Reuters reports.
In 2025, the German company plans to build at least eight systems, increasing from three to four systems this year.
Buschek added that missile production will be tripled this year and doubled next year, with an expected production of approximately 400-500 missiles from 2024.
So far, Germany has supplied two IRIS-T systems to Ukraine. According to the agency, they are mainly used to protect the skies over Kyiv.
Buschek said the Ukrainian air defences had shot down over 110 Russian targets, most of these cruise missiles such as the Kalibr, with a hit rate of nearly 100%.
Germany has pledged to supply another six IRIS-T systems to Ukraine, and expects to take delivery of the first of six systems for its own air force in October 2024.
Ukraine’s new German military aid package, announced in August, includes 2 IRIS-T air defence systems. IRIS-T can destroy aerial targets at a distance of up to 10 km and an altitude of up to 6 km.
The missiles are guided by the radar, which has a target detection range of up to 25 km and an altitude of up to 10 km. The IRIS-T missile guidance algorithm combines satellite navigation, radar targeting and direct targeting with an infrared sensor.
The IRIS-T SLM system has a range of some 40 kilometres and a 360-degree view.
The German-made air defence system has efficiently shot down Russian Shahed drones that Moscow uses to attack Ukrainian cities.
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