Germany and Netherlands announced over the weekend that they will be supplying anti-tank weapons and FIM-92 Stinger anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine.
Germany and Netherlands announced over the weekend that they will be supplying anti-tank weapons and FIM-92 Stinger anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine, Alert 5 says.
The German government on Feb. 26, 2022 approved a decision to supply Ukraine with 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 Stinger surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) from Bundeswehr stocks to support Ukraine’s Armed Forces.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said this, an Ukrinform reported.
“The Russian invasion of Ukraine marks a turning point. It threatens our entire post-war order. It is our duty to do our best to support Ukraine in defending itself against Putin’s invading army. Germany stands closely by Ukraine’s side,” Scholz said.
The weapons will be delivered as quickly as possible to Ukraine, he said.
The Dutch government said in letters to parliament on Fe. 26 that the Netherlands will supply air defence rockets and anti-tank systems to Ukraine, Reuters reported.
According to the letters, the Dutch agreed to a Ukrainian request to rapidly ship 200 Stinger air defence rockets and 50 “Panzerfaust 3” anti-tank weapons with 400 rockets.
The Netherlands is also jointly considering with Germany sending a Patriot air defence system to a NATO battle group in Slovakia.
Based on requests from Ukraine “the Netherlands will provide 200 Stinger air defence rockets”, the letter said.
“Along with our allies, the Defence Ministry aims to deliver these goods as quickly as possible.”
The missiles are in addition to other equipment already promised by the Netherlands earlier this month, including rifles, ammunition, radar systems and mine-detecting robots.
The FIM-92 Stinger is a man-portable air-defense system (MANPADS) that operates as an infrared homing surface-to-air missile (SAM). It can be adapted to fire from a wide variety of ground vehicles and helicopters (Air to Air Stinger). Developed in the United States, it entered service in 1981 and is used by the militaries of the United States and 29 other countries. It is principally manufactured by Raytheon Missile Systems and is produced under license by EADS in Germany and by ROKETSAN in Turkey, with 70,000 missiles produced.
The Stinger was effectively used against Russian aircraft and helicopters by the Mujahideen in the Soviet–Afghan War.
Photo credit: Ministerie van Defensie
