Germany will transmit Ukraine’s advanced IRIS-T SLM surface-to-air missile system, rocket launchers and tracking radars to detect enemy howitzers, mortars and artillery, Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced today.
“The government has decided to provide Germany with the most modern air defense system it has, the IRIS-T system,” Scholz said in a speech to the German parliament, according to a translation of a German news site. . DW“This will allow the Ukrainian government to protect entire cities from Russian missile attacks.”
The IRIS-T SL guided missile at the heart of the system can hit targets up to 25 miles away at altitudes up to 25 miles away, according to manufacturer Diehl Defense. That would add a much-needed addition to the aging Soviet-era air defense arsenal that has already worked so well for Ukraine to deter Russia from gaining air superiority. You can read more about this system in the first reports that Germany is considering sending it to Ukraine.
Scholz also promised to provide “a state-of-the-art radar system that can detect enemy mortars and artillery. This is what we put down to ensure Ukraine’s security with modern weapons. It’s decided.”
Scholz also said Berlin would work closely with the United States to send multiple rocket launchers to Ukraine. DW.
“Ukrainian officials said these systems would not be used to target Russian territory,” DW reported Wednesday morning. “German press DPA reported that Berlin plans to send four launchers to Ukraine and the United States to train Ukrainian soldiers to use the system.
DW The radar or launcher system mentioned by Scholz was never identified.
However, German news agency Tagesspiegel reported Wednesday that Germany will send to Ukraine “four MARS II multi-rocket launchers from the Krauss-Maffei-Wegmann weapons group” from its own stocks.
According to Krauss-Maffei-Wegmann (KMW), the MARS II system can launch a variety of projectiles, and its guided multiple rocket system has a maximum combat range of about 43 miles.
“In addition to unguided rockets,[MARS II/MLRS-E のヨーロッパ射撃管制システム]is currently capable of firing two GMLRS variants, the UNITARY (warhead) and the SMArt (sensor fusion military artillery),” the company said in a statement. website. These are the same his M30 and M31 guided rockets used in his HIMARS and MLRS systems in America. MARS and the upgraded MARS II are German-specific versions of his US-built M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS). “More of his GMLRS ammunition types are currently in development,” he adds on the KMW site.[EuropeanFireControlSystem[oftheMARSII/MLRS-E–cancurrentlyfirethetwoGMLRSvariantsUNITARY(warhead)andSMArt(Sensor-fusedMunitionArtillery)”thecompanystatesonitswebsiteThesearethesameM30andM31guidedrocketsusedbytheAmericanHIMARSandMLRSsystemsMARSandtheupgradedMARSIIareGerman-specificversionsofUS-madeM270MultipleLaunchRocketSystem(MLRS)“FurtherGMLRSmunitionstypesarecurrentlyindevelopment”KMW’ssiteadds[EuropeanFireControlSystem[oftheMARSII/MLRS-E–cancurrentlyfirethetwoGMLRSvariantsUNITARY(warhead)andSMArt(Sensor-fusedMunitionArtillery)”thecompanystatesonitswebsiteThesearethesameM30andM31guidedrocketsusedbytheAmericanHIMARSandMLRSsystemsMARSandtheupgradedMARSIIareGerman-specificversionsofUS-madeM270MultipleLaunchRocketSystem(MLRS)“FurtherGMLRSmunitionstypesarecurrentlyindevelopment”KMW’ssiteadds
Like the American M270, the MARS II system consists of tracked rocket launchers capable of carrying up to 12 rockets at once.
Tagesspiegel cites “government officials” as sources, stating that “Scholz has not explicitly mentioned this before in his address to Congress, because the corresponding agreement with the United States was reached on very short notice. ‘ added.
The news outlet did not provide a delivery timeline.
when contacted by war zone, Pentagon spokesman Marine Lieutenant Colonel Anton Semerloth deferred questions about the MARS II system to German officials. We have reached out to the German government for comment. I will update this article if I get an answer.
We also contacted KMW directly to learn more about their plans to deliver the MARS II system to Ukraine. I will update this story if there is any response.
The IRIS-T system is arguably Germany’s most advanced surface-to-air weapon. Diehl Defense, which manufactures the IRIS-T air defense system, said: war zone It’s investigating the issue.
“As far as the Prime Minister’s statement this morning is concerned, we are looking at issues that the federal government must decide,” said David Voskuhl, spokesman for Diehl Defense, which manufactures the IRIS-T system. war zone Wednesday morning.
Voskuhl declined to comment further, citing “confidentiality reasons.”
These systems are highly advanced and offer very flexible air defense capabilities up to medium range, but are in limited supply depending on the variant. It is not clear how many units can be shipped and whether those units will be diverted from existing customer orders, such as orders from Egypt.
“It will take months,” Foreign Minister Annalena Burbock told lawmakers. Reutersadded that the system, made by arms manufacturer Deal, was actually initially intended for “another country”.
Regardless, the IRIS-T SLM’s pledge to Ukraine means the most advanced surface-to-air missile system ever aimed at Ukraine.
Scholz’ announcement follows President Joe Biden’s promise on Tuesday to provide “more advanced rocket systems and munitions that will enable us to more accurately hit critical targets on the battlefield.” It was further confirmed that the weapon system in question was his M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), ahead of a more formal announcement due today.
Ukraine’s request for long-range fire is becoming more urgent as Russia presses its advance into Donbass.
A Ukrainian official said, “We appreciate the support of the United States in enhancing our ability to defend our country.” war zone Wednesday morning.
Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com
