IRIS-T SLS/SLM and Skyranger aren’t even (yet) in use by the Bundeswehr, Gepards are already decommissioned (but still among the best systems out there). Thing is though unlike Ukraine Germany has an air force, we don’t need deep surface to air capabilities. They’re nice to have but not nearly as essential as for Ukraine.
Germany basically handed Ukraine a gift card valid for any purchase at any German arms company while saying “don’t worry about export controls it’s a formality”, many of those systems are either bought used from pretty much everywhere in the world and then refurbished and upgraded by the original manufacturers, or so brand-new the Bundeswehr itself isn’t even using them yet. Direct deliveries from Bundeswehr stock are generally stop-gap measures, the Bundeswehr really doesn’t have excess stock and any that it had (like old GDR Strelas) has long since been delivered.
IRIS-T SLS/SLM and Skyranger aren’t even (yet) in use by the Bundeswehr, Gepards are already decommissioned (but still among the best systems out there). Thing is though unlike Ukraine Germany has an air force, we don’t need deep surface to air capabilities. They’re nice to have but not nearly as essential as for Ukraine.
Germany basically handed Ukraine a gift card valid for any purchase at any German arms company while saying “don’t worry about export controls it’s a formality”, many of those systems are either bought used from pretty much everywhere in the world and then refurbished and upgraded by the original manufacturers, or so brand-new the Bundeswehr itself isn’t even using them yet. Direct deliveries from Bundeswehr stock are generally stop-gap measures, the Bundeswehr really doesn’t have excess stock and any that it had (like old GDR Strelas) has long since been delivered.