INTERVIEW – ‘Germany to boost Ukraine’s air defenses with new IRIS-T systems’

• ‘IRIS-T has been very successful in Ukraine. The hit rate is really close to 100%,’ Helmut Rauch tells Anadolu

BERLIN

Germany’s Diehl Defence will accelerate deliveries of its IRIS-T air defense systems to Ukraine, its chief executive has confirmed, as Kyiv races to reinforce its air defenses.

Additional IRIS-T SLM systems are scheduled for delivery “in the near future,” the company’s CEO Helmut Rauch told Anadolu, but said precise timelines will remain confidential for security reasons.

“We have already more than 8 fire units of IRIS-T SLM in Ukraine,” he said. “The next delivery, because of security and safety reasons, I don’t want to mention in detail, because I think it’s important for Ukraine that the units come safely to the country.”

The confirmation comes as Ukrainian officials claim intensified Russian aerial attacks have struck power plants, electrical substations, and industrial facilities.

The Kremlin denies the accusations, stating that its airstrikes target Ukrainian logistics depots, long-range drones, and temporary bases used by Ukrainian forces and foreign mercenaries.

Since 2022, Germany has delivered multiple IRIS-T systems, which have become one of the most valued elements of Ukraine’s modern air-defense network – particularly against cruise missiles and drones, even though their ability against ballistic missiles remains limited.

Battlefield performance drives rising demand

Rauch emphasized that the system’s strong battlefield performance has shaped growing interest not only from Ukraine but from European states looking to bolster defenses in the face of shifting geopolitical threats.

“IRIS-T has been very successful in Ukraine. The hit rate is really close to 100%,” he said. “What is also very important is that IRIS-T is very automated. That means you don’t need so many soldiers like for older systems or older air defense systems. And it can be moved very, very quickly to other positions.”

This mobility, combined with automation, has made the IRIS-T harder for Russian forces to detect and target. Its smaller crew requirements also ease strain on Ukraine’s already stretched military personnel.

Ukraine currently uses both the IRIS-T SLM (medium-range) and IRIS-T SLS (short-range) systems, layering them to protect cities and key infrastructure from drones and low-flying missile threats, according to the company.

Missile production expanded tenfold

The war in Ukraine has transformed the scale of Diehl Defence’s operations. Rauch said the company has massively increased production since 2022 to meet surging European defense demand.

“The IRIS-T family consists of 20 countries for the time being,” he said. “From these 20 countries, 10 countries have IRIS-T SLM, the ground-based air defense system. For sure, there will be more countries (added to the list).”

He revealed that the company has already multiplied production capacity “by a factor of 10” for the IRIS-T SLM missiles, marking one of the most rapid expansions in the firm’s history.

This surge aligns with broader European rearmament efforts, including Germany’s €100 billion (over $115 billion) defense fund and multiple NATO states planning to double or triple ammunition procurement in the coming years.

Key role in European air defense

Rauch said the system is set to become a central component of the European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI), a German-led effort to build interoperable, multi-layered, continent-wide air defense.

“Some 24 countries have already joined this initiative … It is an excellent sign that they are procuring the same system – they can use the same training, they are interoperable, they have the same spare parts,” he said.

“They are going for the next generation in the same configurations between the countries. Therefore, I am convinced we are on the right path in Europe to have more cooperation between the countries and to procure more common systems.”

Recent buyers include Denmark, Slovenia, Switzerland and Sweden, aiming to establish compatible air defense networks across Europe.

Rauch also welcomed parallel EU efforts to integrate Europe’s defense industry, including the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) framework, which encourages joint procurement and opens the door to defense-sector cooperation with non-EU NATO allies.