After massive attacks on Ukrainian cities, NATO decided to urgently strengthen Ukrainian and its own air defense.
Ukraine needs a unified air defense system
During and after the meeting in the Ramstein format, the countries of the Alliance began to make new decisions on the supply of air defense systems to Ukraine, in particular, the creation of an integrated system .
Germany has already announced the transfer of the first IRIS-T air defense system to the Ukrainian military, and France and Spain have promised to allocate new funds to destroy Russian missiles and new Iranian-made drones.
The new air defense systems that are being delivered to Ukraine on an urgent basis are a signal to Putin that the only thing he has achieved with massive attacks on civilian infrastructure and absolutely innocent citizens is that we are stepping up our efforts to help Ukraine, the minister said. Defense of the Netherlands Kaisa Ollongren.
At the same time, NATO countries decided to create a new interconnected missile defense system in Europe as part of the European Sky Shield initiative, which will protect the entire continent.
NATO took on commitment to combine countries' air defense systems
As part of the initiative, it is planned that NATO member countries should purchase the most modern missile defense systems and combine them with systems of other countries.
Perhaps the most important task is to tie all these systems together. It takes time and effort to create a common picture to make sure it is interoperable, and this can become a problem, said Janis Harrisons, State Secretary of the Ministry of Defense of Latvia.
However, building such a common air defense system in Europe will take years, because ” advanced network systems and the development of rules for the exchange of data and information will be another obstacle for countries sometimes hesitant to share such sensitive information. Air Defense
- During the Ramstein meeting, Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin expressed support for the West to jointly create an integrated air defense system for Ukraine and transfer missile systems of various ranges to Kyiv.
- He stressed that air defense systems will be delivered to Ukraine as quickly as physically possible.
- By the way, in addition to Germany, other countries will provide air defense to Ukraine. In particular, Spain plans to provide 4 Hawk air defense installations. And even France promised to provide our country with weapons.
