Ukraine to be first to receive latest IRIS-T anti-aircraft missile systems: what is known

Ukraine will be the first in the world to receive the newest IRIS-T anti-aircraft missile systems. Ukrainian sky defenders are already learning to work with such air defense systems.

The spokesman of the Air Force Command, Yuriy Ignat, announced this on the air on Channel 5.

"Ukraine is the first country that will use IRIS. NASAMS, of course, we have heard about it for a long time, and we are waiting. Indeed, the specialists who will use them are already gaining some experience and undergoing some training.

We look forward to strengthening our air defense system, at least a small number of these complexes, but we will wait for larger deliveries," Ignat said.

IRIS-T SLM is a ground-based air defense system developed by Diehl Defense on a MAN SX 45 (8 x 8) chassis with modified IRIS-T short-range guided missiles with an infrared homing head equipped with a powerful engine. The firing range from the vertical launcher is up to 40 kilometers; the damage is 20 kilometers. It can target aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, jet artillery, drones, anti-radar missiles, and bombs.