“We have been sending weapons to Ukraine since the beginning of the war, including heavy weapons,” Scholz said.

“We coordinate closely with our partners and deliver what is useful - including the state-of-the-art IRIS-T system, which protects large cities from air raids,” he added.

The IRIS-T is a German-led program to develop a short-range infrared homing air-to-air missile to replace the AIM-9 Sidewinder found in some NATO member countries.

Any aircraft capable of firing the Sidewinder is also capable of launching the IRIS-T. (ILKHA)