August 20, 2024

The IRIS-T air defense system already has a very high target interception efficiency, and thanks to the skill and true character of Ukrainian anti-aircraft fighters, there is a case when it exceeded 100%.

The German IRIS-T anti-aircraft missile systems in service with the Armed Forces continue to prove their high efficiency in intercepting such rather complex targets as cruise missiles. At the same time, in unique cases, the efficiency of the complex can exceed 100%, thanks to the skill of calculations and luck.

This is exactly what happened in a unit under the “West” air command of the Air Force. The press service of the command published a really interesting story of the combat path of the battery commander, lieutenant colonel Oleksandr, who, with the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion, first fought on the Buk M1, on which he destroyed Russian aircraft and attack helicopters from ambushes in the first months of the war. And now he commands a new anti-aircraft missile system.

And despite the fact that the “West” air command did not report the type of this air defense system, there is a clarification that it was acquired by Germany, and also added a photo of the battery commander and the command post with notes on the destruction of targets. Thanks to him, it is possible to say that we are talking about the IRIS-T command post. Most likely, we are talking about the IRIS-T SLM, but it is quite possible that the IRIS-T SLS short-range complex also has the same command post in its structure.

It is possible to draw attention to a rather strange hatch, which is located quite high. And despite the possible first impression that it is a door, it is ventilation. There are other minor details, such as technical markings and fasteners.

And also, of course, on the marks for destroyed targets, one of which in the penultimate group of six marks contains a double cruise missile.

“We spend one missile on one target. That is, the efficiency is 100%. We even managed to destroy six enemy missiles with five of ours. The Russian missile exploded after being hit by our missile and destroyed another cruise missile with its debris,” Oleksandr said. He also added that 45 aerial targets have already been destroyed at this complex in six months.

At the same time, only 39 marks were applied to the command post. The fact is that the photo of this car was first made public by the “West” command on July 3, that is, the photo was taken earlier, and the interview was taken at about the same time, and later clarified. That is, in more than 1.5 months, it was more than possible to shoot down six more enemy long-range weapons.

At the same time, the fact that the IRIS-T SLM is used only to destroy cruise missiles is quite an interesting aspect, which can directly speak of a fairly clear hierarchy of the use of air defense means depending on the goals. And also the fact that “younger” means, which are at the disposal of mobile fire groups, quite cope with the assigned tasks.

The post also states that in total, Alexander has 75 destroyed enemy targets. That is, during his service on the Buk M1, exactly 30 were shot down by this air defense system under his command. Among those listed: two Su-34 front-line bombers, four helicopters, including a Mi-28 attack helicopter, all during the defense of Kyiv in early 2022 year, as well as ten cruise missiles and attack drones during the defense of Odesa region.

We attach the publication itself from the Air Command “West” of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine:

https://defence-ua.com/army_and_war/iris_t_zsu_zbiv_dvi_rosijski_krilati_raketi_odnim_postrilom_a_zagalom_45_tsilej_lishe_za_piv_roku-16363.html