Germany's air defence dilemma: Lessons from Ukrainian tactics
The German portal Hartpunkt has highlighted the issues facing the country concerning a significant shortage of air defence systems. Analysts at Defence Express suggest that a potential solution could be to draw on the experiences of Ukrainians in their conflict with Russia.
According to the long-term plans of the German government, the Bundeswehr is set to have a total of 29 "large" air defence systems in the coming years. Hartpunkt noted that while this number may seem substantial, it would be insufficient to protect 80 large cities and 11 main military bases across Germany in the event of a nationwide threat.
Germany lacks anti-aircraft systems
Currently, the German army operates eight batteries of the American Patriot air defence systems (there were more, but some were sold or transferred to Ukraine). This weapon system provides protection against various threats, including ballistic missiles, which most competing solutions cannot counter. The Patriots are supplemented by IRIS-T systems, although their implementation into service has taken significantly longer than expected.
An equally concerning issue is the current state of the Bundeswehr's lower-tier anti-aircraft defence assets. Many of the self-propelled Gepard anti-aircraft systems were handed over to Ukraine, and the introduction of their successor, the Skyranger 30 mobile anti-aircraft systems, remains a future development.
The Bundeswehr is unprepared for modern threats
Analysts at Defence Express point out that to effectively utilise the limited number of air defence systems, an optimal deployment strategy is necessary, alongside the regular replenishment of ammunition.
They also emphasise that the most significant threat in modern armed conflict is posed by long-range kamikaze drones. Intercepting such targets with "large" anti-aircraft systems is impractical, and thus these systems should be reserved for targets like cruise and ballistic missiles. Against drones, as shown by Ukrainian experiences, it is more effective to employ not only lower-tier anti-aircraft weapons but also unconventional methods, such as mobile fire groups with machine guns or helicopters and fighter jets to intercept drones like the Shahed.
Interestingly, Ukrainian soldiers frequently highlight the effectiveness and cost-efficiency of the Gepard anti-aircraft guns donated by Germany in combating Russian drones. These guns utilise two 35 mm calibre barrels with a firing rate of 550 rounds per minute, allowing them to engage targets at a range of up to 2-3 miles.
