The opposition criticizes Olaf Scholz for his hesitance on arms deliveries to Ukraine. The Chancellor responded to the Bundestag debate with an announcement: Ukraine is to receive Germany’s most modern air defense system.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz has promised Ukraine the delivery of a modern air defense system to fight against the Russian attackers. In addition, the Ukrainian armed forces will be provided with a modern tracking radar that can spot artillery, Scholz said in the Bundestag.
He also announced that Germany would support the US-announced delivery of multiple rocket launchers to Ukraine “according to our technical capabilities.” According to Scholz, the air defense system is IRIS-T from the manufacturer Diehl. This will deliver the most modern air defense system that Germany has. “This will enable Ukraine to protect an entire city from Russian air raids,” said Scholz.
Military expert Gustav Gressel had already explained in an interview with ntv.de why IRIS-T brings Ukraine a real advantage. “The IRIS-T SLM has a shorter range than the Patriots, but it’s more mobile and therefore more suitable for Ukraine. The Russians can detect the Ukrainian radar positions and then attack them. That’s why the Ukrainians always shoot only one defensive battle from one position. Then they turn off the radar, move their devices to another location and wait for the Russians to fly the next mission. This requires mobile devices if possible. That is why the IRIS-T SLM would be a very good weapon for the Ukrainians .”
Ukraine has long requested the delivery of anti-aircraft systems to protect itself against attacks by Russian fighter jets, helicopters, missiles or drones. Immediately after the start of the war, the federal government decided to supply German weapons for the first time in an ongoing war against a nuclear power. So far, among other things, bazookas, anti-aircraft missiles and many millions of rounds of ammunition have been delivered.
In the past few weeks, the federal government had already made two commitments for the delivery of heavy weapons: 50 Gepard anti-aircraft tanks and 7 self-propelled howitzers 2000 – modern artillery pieces with a range of 40 kilometers – are to be delivered to the Ukraine. But they haven’t gotten there yet. The opposition has repeatedly accused Scholz of hesitation in recent weeks.
