Germany to supply Ukraine with Sidewinder missiles from Bundeswehr stocks
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has announced plans to supply Ukraine with Sidewinder missiles to strengthen its air defence.
Source: Pistorius at the opening of a meeting of Ukraine Defence Contact Group (also known as the Ramstein format), as reported by European Pravda
Details: Pistorius noted that Germany had significantly reinforced Ukraine's air defence by delivering two Patriot systems agreed in August, partly with the help of Norwegian partners, as well as a ninth IRIS-T air defence system.
He said that next year Germany would provide a large number of Sidewinder missiles from its own stocks to bolster Ukraine's air defence.
These are air-to-air missiles that can be used from helicopters or fighter jets against enemy aircraft or drones.
The United States has already supplied such missiles to Ukraine. The Ukrainians adapted these missiles, originally designed for F-16 fighter jets, into surface-to-air missiles for the needs of Ukraine's air defence.
A source told the Financial Times in 2023 that they had modified the missiles and found a way to launch them from the ground, describing it as a kind of improvised air defence.
According to the source, this was one example of converting equipment that had seemed no longer useful into operational weapons.
Background:
- UK Defence Secretary John Healey said at the Ramstein meeting that the UK is making its largest single-year investment of £600 million to strengthen Ukraine's air defence.
- The 32nd meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group is taking place on 16 December via video link.
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