Ukraine has been kept afloat with Western weapons for almost eight months now, but supplies are often not easy. There is endless discussion: whether it is about defense against the Russian missile threat or about weapons that can be used to bombard the Russians in every corner of the occupied territory.
With the longer-range missiles, for example, the Ukrainian artillery could have inflicted heavy losses on the invasion force months ago. Advantage: a possible shortening of the war. But the US is reluctant to supply the Atacms missile, which has a range of 300 kilometers. Washington fears escalation as Russian territory may be hit.
Security against Russian missiles has also been a headache for months. Although Russia has already fired more than 2,000 rockets, including at cities, many countries are not eager to come to the rescue. Common argument: they need the weapons for their own defense. In the end, only two countries, the US and Germany, made it through after much urging from Ukraine. Problem: It will take months for the twelve air defense systems to be in place.
A new era of air defense has begun in . IRIS-Ts from are already here. ?? 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 ?? in order to save our people. pic.twitter.com/jvbXUwDjc8— Oleksii Reznikov (@oleksiireznikov) October 11, 2022
Warning
“Believe me, it is not nearly enough to protect the civilian infrastructure, schools, hospitals, universities and homes of Ukrainians,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned for the umpteenth time two weeks ago.
Coincidence or not, on Tuesday, a day before the allies were due to consider new aid against the Russian missile threat, Kyiv announced that the first anti-aircraft system had finally arrived. From Germany. “This is just the beginning,” Ukraine’s Defense Ministry tweeted. Followed by yet another warning: ‘We need more.’ The Netherlands decided on Wednesday to send 15 million euros worth of anti-aircraft missiles. It is unclear what kind of missiles are involved.
These are the antiaircraft weapons that can protect Ukraine:
Iris-T (Germany)
Berlin has promised to deliver four of these air defense systems, the first of which has already arrived. With this weapon, Russian missiles must be intercepted up to 40 kilometers and at a maximum height of 20 kilometers. “The most modern air defense system in Germany,” said German Chancellor Olaf Scholz Iris-T.
The weapon was actually developed by Germany and a group of European countries to equip combat aircraft with missiles for aerial combat. This anti-aircraft missile was to replace the American Sidewinder, for many years one of the most used missiles to take down aircraft. The German military manufacturer Diehl also made a variant for the German army that can fire missiles from the ground to intercept cruise missiles and drones, among other things.
The nearly 3 meter long rocket flies towards the target at a speed of about 3,000 kilometers per hour. Unlike other antiaircraft weapons such as the American Patriot, Iris-T has never proven itself in war. But according to Diehl, the weapon has once again demonstrated its “efficiency and accuracy” in recent tests. The coming days, when Iris-T is deployed for the first time, will show whether the German missile is indeed effective against the Russian missiles.
Nasams (US and Norway)
This Norwegian-American missile system, like Iris-T, will make its war debut in Ukraine. The US supplies eight. The major advantage of Nasams (National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System) is that it uses the American Amraam, one of the world’s most advanced surface-to-air missiles. The Amraam has been in use for years by the US Air Force and by the air forces of other NATO member states.
Depending on the Amraam version used, aircraft, missiles, helicopters and drones can be attacked from a distance of 30 to 50 kilometers. The nearly 4 meter long rocket has a maximum speed of four times the speed of sound. The big advantage of Nasams is that countries that also have the Amraam can help Ukraine with extra interceptor missiles if the Russians start using missiles and drones on a larger scale.
The US has such confidence in Nasams that Washington decided to choose the weapon to protect the White House from air strikes. According to the Norwegian manufacturer Kongsberg and the American Raytheon, the weapon is characterized by ‘unprecedented firepower and flexibility’. It will have to become clear on the battlefield in Ukraine whether this is indeed the case. The greater Russian missile threat will increase pressure on other nations that have Nasams, such as Norway, to come to the aid of Ukraine as well.
Phalanx (US)
This weapon is not a missile system but a type of rapid-fire cannon that fires ammunition at great speed. The weapon was designed for ships as defense against anti-ship missiles and other airborne threats at sea. Manufacturer Raytheon made a land version for the US armed forces to protect units against missiles, artillery shells and mortars.
This defense system is installed on all US Navy ships and on those of 24 allies. The heavy Gatling cannon can fire 4,500 rounds in one minute. The land-based version of the weapon has been deployed in Iraq, among other places, to protect US military bases and key locations in Baghdad after the 2003 invasion.
Other European countries also have similar C-Ram weapons (Counter Rocket, Artillery, Mortar), such as Italy. Zelensky last month named Italy and France as the other countries that can now quickly help Ukraine. “There are not that many countries that can guarantee the closure of airspace with an air defense system,” Zelensky said.