Germany's air defence woes: Learning from Ukraine's tactics
The German portal Hartpunkt has highlighted the country's significant shortage of air defense systems. Analysts at Defence Express suggest that one possible solution could be learning from the experiences of Ukrainians in their war against Russia.
According to the German government's long-term plans, the Bundeswehr is expected to have a total of 29 "large" air defense systems in the coming years. Hartpunkt noted that while this number might seem substantial, it would be insufficient in the event of a threat to the entire country, as it would not cover all 80 major cities and 11 main military bases in Germany.
Germany lacks air defense systems
Currently, the German army operates eight batteries of the American Patriot air defense systems (there were more, but some were sold or transferred to Ukraine). These weapons provide protection against various threats, including ballistic missiles, which most competing solutions cannot manage. The Patriots are supplemented by IRIS-T systems, although the deployment of some of these has been significantly delayed.
An equally significant issue is the current state of the Bundeswehr's low-tier air defense. Most of the self-propelled Gepard anti-aircraft systems have been donated to Ukraine. The introduction of their successor, the mobile Skyranger 30 anti-aircraft systems, is a future consideration.
The Bundeswehr is not adapted to modern threats
Analysts at Defence Express point out that to make effective use of the limited number of air defense systems, an optimal deployment plan is crucial, along with regular ammunition replenishment.
They also emphasize that the greatest threat in modern armed conflicts comes from long-range kamikaze drones. Intercepting such targets with "large" anti-aircraft systems is impossible, so their use should be limited to threats like cruise and ballistic missiles. Against drones, as shown by Ukrainian experience, it is more effective to use not only low-tier air defense weapons but also unconventional methods, including mobile fire groups with machine guns or even helicopters and fighter jets to intercept drones like the Shahed.
Interestingly, Ukrainian soldiers frequently identify the anti-aircraft Gepard guns, donated by Germany, as the most effective and cost-efficient weapon for combating Russian drones. These guns use two 35 mm cannons with a firing rate of 550 rounds per minute, allowing them to engage targets at distances of approximately 2-3 miles.
