Germany pledges additional $1.24 billion military aid to Ukraine: Howitzers, air defence systems included
Chancellor Scholz detailed a new tranche of military aid for Ukraine worth 1.1 billion euros ($1.24 billion). He added that next year, Germany plans to commit 1.7 billion euros ($1.92 billion) to such support and, in subsequent years, as much as 6 billion euros ($6.78 billion), according to the Military Service. The latest aid package will include:
12:45 PM EST, February 16, 2024
- 36 self-propelled tracked and wheeled howitzers (18 PzH 2000 howitzers and 18 RCH 155 howitzers),
- 120 thousand 122 mm artillery ammunition,
- 2 Skynex air defense systems,
- 100 missiles for IRIS-T SLS systems.
Understanding German support for Ukraine
The assistance includes equipment and ammunition needed for defence against Russian air attacks. Germany will provide Ukraine with two Skynex systems, which are mobile short-range air defence artillery systems. They feature the Oerlikon Skymaster battle management system, a control node. The manufacturers ensure that various sensors and effectors, including air defence guns and missiles, can be flexibly combined to meet mission demands.
The Skynex system, in its basic configuration, includes a command and control unit, X-TAR3D radar, Oerlikon Revolver Gun Mk3 35 mm gun, and an assortment of ammunition housed in a remotely controlled module, weighing 11244 lbs. The system can be mounted on the chassis of an armoured vehicle. The Skynex can engage targets up to a distance of 2.5 miles away, proving effective against AGM-88 HARM anti-radiation missiles and swarms of small drones.
Ukraine will also receive 100 missiles for the IRIS-T SLS systems as part of the support. These short-range air defence systems consist of a launcher, a Giraffe radar responsible for target detection, and a BAE Hägglunds Bv410 vehicle command module. The system employs IRIS-T missiles and can hit targets up to 7.5 miles away. This suggests that Ukrainians can utilize it to counteract Russian attack helicopters.
