A total of 23 people are dead, including four children. That is the official preliminary toll as of this morning following the latest devastating attack by the Russian army on peaceful civilians in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv.
This is yet another immense loss of immeasurable human life, even though the Ukrainian Air Force claims to have intercepted a total of 77.98% of all Russian drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles.
The latest attack shows once again how important it is for Ukraine’s supporters to provide it with both the means to preventively destroy launch platforms and other military targets and to supply modern air defence systems so that incoming drones, cruise missiles and more can be destroyed after launch before they reach their target.
It is good that the German government has taken precautions, particularly regarding the regular delivery of new air defence systems.
Just recently, the future delivery of two additional MIM-104 Patriot fire units from Bundeswehr stocks was announced. Germany is receiving financial support from Norway for this project.
In addition, Diehl Defence’s order books for the delivery of IRIS-T SLM fire units to Ukraine are full for the next few years.
In fact, as I have learned from well-informed sources, another IRIS-T SLM fire unit was delivered to Ukraine two weeks ago. The personnel required for this are said to have completed several weeks of training last month.
This means that Ukraine now has eight IRIS-T SLM fire units at its disposal.
Under optimal conditions, each of these fire units covers an area of 40 kilometres and is capable of engaging targets at altitudes of up to 20 kilometres, providing exceptional effectiveness against drones, cruise missiles, enemy aircraft, and other targets.
A fire unit usually consists of three IRIS-T SLM launchers, a TRML-4D air surveillance and target acquisition radar, the Tactical Operations Centre, a reloading vehicle, a vehicle storing spare parts and a mobile workshop.
As usual in Ukraine, two additional IRIS-T SLS launchers have also been integrated into the fire unit that has now been delivered.
The missiles used with the SLS launchers have a shorter range and are less expensive to produce and purchase, which makes them more ideal for using them against drones, among other targets. Their usage also increases the overall firepower of the entire fire unit and close certain gaps in coverage.
It is not yet known where exactly the eighth fire unit has been deployed. However, one possible candidate would be the 540th Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade, which received its first IRIS-T SLM fire unit at the end of May or beginning of June. According to the brigade, IRIS-T SLM is replacing the Soviet S-300 air defence system as the brigade’s main system.
With the delivery carried out two weeks ago, the German government has now delivered two of the four fire units promised for 2025.
However, given that the current year will be over in just over four months, I doubt that the German government will actually be able to keep its promise.
After all, it is not enough to simply produce two additional fire units. The personnel required to operate them must also be trained over a period of several weeks, and then the actual deliveries to Ukraine must take place.
But hopefully time will prove me wrong! After all, the attack I mentioned at the beginning of this article clearly shows one thing: Ukraine needs as many modern air defence systems as possible to protect its own country, and it needs them as quickly as possible.
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Can you share what type of vehicles are used for the reloading vehicle, the vehicle storing spare parts and the mobile workshop? Are they RMMV HX2 8×8 like the radar, launcher and TOC? How about the new SLS vehicles, are they the new Iveco trucks?
Hello Cory! I’ve uploaded a picture here which shows an entire fire unit. Also here another image, which shows a reloading vehicle in Ukraine up close. Here you find an image of an SLS launcher.
Thanks!