Russia and Ukraine flashpoint

[Bofferbrauer2]

shavenferret said:

It would be nice if the EU would supply a different system of air defense, instead of relying on getting the few systems available of Patriot. Ukraine doesn't necessarily need a great system when good numbers of an average one would be very beneficial. I'm wondering what air defense system France, Germany, and GB use. Could Ukraine be supplied with a system from these nations?

Germany has supplied their IRIS-T system to Ukraine, and just a couple days ago announced sending another battery. in All, Germany pledged 12 Medium range IRIS-T SLM and 24 short-range SLS systems, out of which only 4 (3 SLM and 1 SLS, or 3+2 with the new one, which doesn't seem to be on the list yet) have have arrived so far. If Germany ramps up the deliveries of IRIS-T and their corresponding rockets, then Ukraine should have a much more adequate air defense than it has now.

France doesn't have or use any air defense systems to speak of apart from some MANPADS and naval air defense systems, so there ain't much that they could send to Ukraine from their own stocks anymore that they didn't send yet. France's doctrine is based on high mobility and is mostly focused on counter-insurgency, which tend to not have any Air Force and thus didn't need much in terms or air defense, though considering how drones are employed in Ukraine, this could change in the future.

As for the UK, they have 2 indigenous designs: A new CAMM design system called Sky Sabre (first units came online in 2022), and the smaller Starstreak, that can be both mounted on  a vehicle or used as MANPADS, the latter of which have been send in some quantities to Ukraine. The UK will probably get their units of Sky Sabre first delivered before they will send any to Ukraine, so that may take a while.

Last edited by Bofferbrauer2 - on 18 April 2024