Germany discusses air defense capacity amid NATO exercises

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius emphasized the necessity of expanding NATO air defenses during a visit to the Spartan Arrow 2026 military exercise in Crete, Greece. Participating German and Swedish soldiers conducted live-fire training against drones and ballistic missiles at the NAMFI facility. During the drills, German forces utilized the new Iris-T SLM air defense system, developed by Diehl Defence, which has seen operational use in Ukraine.

Separately, Armin Laschet, chair of the Bundestag's Foreign Affairs Committee, stated that Germany has exhausted its available resources for providing air defense systems to Ukraine. Laschet noted that there is currently no untapped potential within the Bundeswehr or the defense industry to provide further immediate support. He also advocated for de-escalation regarding long-range strikes into Russian territory, citing the need to maintain US support for Kyiv.