Ukraine received from Germany another newest ground-based anti-aircraft complex of medium range Iris-T-SLM. The air defense system is designed to protect the civilian population. Spiegel writes about it. According to journalists, the Iris-T-SLM arrived on Friday, May 24. Therefore, the Armed Forces of Ukraine currently have four medium-range Iris-T systems and one short-range system.
As the newspaper reports, over the past year and a half, the systems have proven their effectiveness in protecting large cities from air attacks. In particular, cruise missiles aimed at critical energy infrastructure were intercepted.
Germany promised to transfer nine IRIS-T SLM air defense systems, as well as 11 IRIS-T SLS air defense systems, manufactured by the German enterprise Diehl Defense.
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It is noteworthy that the Bundeswehr does not have such systems in service, since they are new and were sent to Ukraine among the first.
Technical characteristics of the IRIS-T SLM air defense system
IRIS-T SLM is Germany's most advanced air defense system, designed to destroy aircraft, helicopters, drones, cruise and ballistic missiles, manufactured by Diehl Defense in 2007-2014.
Its maximum range is 40 km, combat height reaches 20 km (destruction of missiles up to 60 km from the object being covered). There are eight missiles in the launcher (the standard IRIS-T battery has three launchers).
Length – 2.9 meters, diameter – 0.127 meters, wingspan – 0.35 meters.
Flight speed – up to Mach three (1020 m/s or 3672 km/h).
The IRIS-T SLM complex is distinguished, in particular, by a more powerful version of the IRIS anti-aircraft guided missiles -T. They have a solid fuel engine with a controlled thrust vector. This allows for better maneuverability, as well as an infrared homing head that has a high degree of protection against passive and active countermeasures. That is, the missile can distinguish between thermal traps and real targets.
It is known that the cost of the complex, which consists of a radar, a control point and launchers with missiles, is, according to various sources, about 140 – 178 million euros.