The first modern air defense complex IRIS-T arrived in Ukraine from Germany. Almost simultaneously with this, the Armed Forces received four additional HIMARS systems from the USA. Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov announced both events on Twitter.

“A new era of air defence has begun in Ukraine. IRIS-Ts from Germany are already here. US NASAMS are coming. This is only the beginning. And we need more. No doubt that russia is a terrorist state. There is a moral imperative to protect the sky over Ukraine in order to save our people,” Reznikov wrote about air defense.

IRIS-T SLM is a state-of-the-art medium-range air defense system based on an air-to-air missile. Operational testing of the IRIS-T SLM was completed only in January 2022. So far, only Egypt has ordered 7 such systems and 400 missiles for them, but Ukraine seems to have become the first country to receive the latest air defense system. The IRIS-T SLM can shoot down targets at a range of up to 40 km and an altitude of up to 20 km, that is, even some ballistic missiles. One such complex can cover a large city and its satellite cities.

By the end of the year, Ukraine should receive two IRIS-T complexes, Germany plans to transfer two more in early 2023.

“4 additional HIMARS from our American partners have arrived! I thank the President of the United States, Joe Biden, the Secretary of Defense of the United States, Lloyd Austin, and the American people. HIMARS time: a good time for Ukrainians and a bad time for the occupiers. Great news on the eve of Ramstein 6, where I’m going tomorrow. There will be more,” added Oleksii Reznikov about the new multiple-launch rocket systems.

The total number of M142 HIMARS in the Armed Forces already reaches 20 units. This is more than any army in the world except the United States.