Germany sends large aid package to Ukraine, including IRIS-T and Patriot launchers

Germany revised the list of military aid to Ukraine on Monday, 23 December, including Leopard 1 A5 tanks, IRIS-T SLM/SLS anti-aircraft missile systems, and Patriot launchers.

Germany provided Ukraine with the IRIS-T SLM (medium-range) air defence missile system and the IRIS-T SLS (short-range) system.

The military aid package also included two Patriot launchers.

In addition, it includes:

• 15 Leopard 1 A5 tanks;
• two Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft systems;
• 30 MRAP armoured vehicles with mine protection;
• PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzer;
• 12 armoured vehicles with kinetic defence systems;
• two TRML-4D radars;
• AIM-9L/I-1 Sidewinder guided missiles;
• ammunition for Leopard 1 and Leopard 2 tanks;
• 120 GMW grenade launchers,
• 52,000 155-mm shells,
• 65,000 rounds of ammunition for Gepard systems.
• 30 Vector drones, 24 RQ-35 Heidrun drones, and 14 Hornet XR drones;
• 5 AMPS helicopter self-defence systems;
• 45 diving scooters;
• 12 Zetros lorries and 8 Zetros fuel tankers.

The package also included small arms:

• 200 MG4 machine guns;
• 420 MK 556 rifles.

In addition, Germany provided generators, turnstiles, tents, 120mm mortar ammunition, demining equipment, as well as small arms ammunition.

In early September, Scholz announced that Germany had ordered a total of 17 IRIS-T air defence systems for Ukraine, consisting of eight medium-range (SLM) and nine short-range (SLS) systems.

During a visit to Kyiv in early December, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz confirmed that the sixth IRIS-T SLM system would arrive in Ukraine by the end of the year.

On 20 December, President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Ukraine had received the sixth IRIS-T SLM air defence system from Germany.