Ukraine Orders 18 New IRIS-T Air Defense Systems to Counter Russian Missile Strikes.

Ukraine has ordered 18 additional IRIS-T SLM medium-range air defense systems to strengthen protection against Russian missiles, drones, and tactical aircraft. The move significantly improves Ukraine’s layered air defense posture and highlights the growing role of Western systems in countering Moscow’s air campaign.

Ukraine has taken a decisive step to reinforce its air defense network by ordering 18 additional IRIS-T SLM medium-range air defense systems, a move that significantly strengthens the country’s ability to counter Russia’s sustained aerial campaign. Information released by RBC Ukraine on January 23, 2025, confirms that the procurement, backed by German industrial partners and international support mechanisms, marks one of the largest single expansions of Ukraine’s Western-supplied air defense assets since the beginning of the full-scale war. As Russian forces continue to rely on cruise missiles, glide bombs, and long-range attack drones, the new IRIS-T systems are set to play a central role in building a resilient, layered air defense shield capable of protecting both frontline forces and critical national infrastructure.
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The IRIS-T-SLM is a modern medium-range air defense system combining a TRML-4D AESA radar with highly agile infrared-guided missiles, capable of detecting up to 1,500 targets and intercepting aircraft, cruise missiles, and drones at ranges of around 40 km with full 360-degree coverage and high resistance to electronic countermeasures (Picture source: Army Recognition Group).

The IRIS-T SLM is a modern, modular surface-to-air missile system designed to counter a broad spectrum of aerial threats. At the core of the system is the TRML-4D active electronically scanned array radar developed by Hensoldt. Operating in the S-band, the radar can detect, track, and classify up to 1,500 targets simultaneously at ranges of up to 250 kilometers, while maintaining high accuracy against low-altitude and low radar cross-section targets. This capability is especially relevant in Ukraine, where Russian cruise missiles and one-way attack drones frequently exploit terrain masking and low-level flight profiles.

The interceptor itself is derived from the IRIS-T air-to-air missile but optimized for surface launch. It uses an advanced imaging infrared seeker that provides exceptional target discrimination and resistance to electronic countermeasures. Unlike radar-guided missiles, the passive infrared seeker gives no warning to the target, significantly reducing reaction time for enemy pilots or missile guidance systems. With thrust vector control and extreme maneuverability, the missile can engage highly agile targets, including cruise missiles performing evasive maneuvers and fast jets at medium ranges. The effective engagement envelope extends to approximately 40 kilometers in range and up to 20 kilometers in altitude.

The IRIS-T SLM offers Ukraine a highly flexible and survivable air defense solution. Each fire unit provides full 360-degree coverage and can engage multiple targets simultaneously with a high degree of automation. The system’s open architecture allows seamless integration into broader integrated air and missile defense networks, enabling data sharing with systems such as Patriot, NASAMS, and legacy Soviet-era assets still in Ukrainian service. This network-centric approach is essential for maximizing interception efficiency while conserving limited interceptor stocks.

Mobility is another critical factor. Mounted on MAN 8x8 tactical trucks, IRIS-T SLM launchers and radar units can rapidly redeploy, conduct engagements, and relocate within minutes. This shoot-and-scoot capability greatly complicates Russian suppression of enemy air defenses operations and reduces vulnerability to counterstrikes using ballistic missiles or loitering munitions. In a battlefield saturated with surveillance drones, survivability through mobility has become a decisive advantage.

Ukraine’s need for these additional systems is driven by the intensity and persistence of Russia’s air campaign. High-end systems like Patriot are primarily tasked with defending against ballistic missiles and critical strategic targets, leaving a persistent gap at the medium-altitude layer. Russian forces have exploited this gap with mass launches of Kh-101 cruise missiles, Shahed-type drones, and glide bombs dropped from stand-off distances. The IRIS-T SLM directly addresses this challenge by offering a cost-effective, high-probability-of-kill solution against the most frequently used threats.

On the frontline, the new IRIS-T SLM systems are expected to protect maneuver brigades, logistics nodes, and key operational hubs within 20 to 30 kilometers of the contact line. Their presence will directly constrain Russian tactical aviation, particularly Su-34 strike aircraft employing UMPK glide bombs. By forcing these aircraft to release munitions from greater distances or lower altitudes, the system reduces both the accuracy and effectiveness of Russian air-delivered fires. Additionally, the systems will be positioned along known cruise missile approach corridors to intercept low-flying threats before they reach urban centers or critical infrastructure.

With the arrival of these 18 systems, Ukraine is moving beyond a purely reactive air defense posture toward a proactive denial strategy. The expansion of IRIS-T SLM coverage will not only reduce damage on the ground but also impose higher operational costs on Russian air operations, reinforcing Ukraine’s ability to contest and gradually reclaim control of its airspace.