Berlin has approved a shipment of 2,700 Soviet-era “Strela” anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine.

The new supply follows one of 500 US-made MANPADS (Man-Portable Air Defense System) Stinger missiles and 1,000 Panzerfaust 3 anti-tank weapons to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

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The German government has now decided to reverse its policy of restricting arms exports, which Berlin has been implementing for years, and allow direct arms deliveries to Ukraine following the Russian military invasion. For years the German government has refused to authorize arms exports to war zones or to allow third parties to send German-made weapons to them.

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According to Reuters news agency, the missiles are ready for shipment, but the Federal Security Council has yet to approve this.

Regarding the weapon system in question, it is the Soviet-made, surface-to-air, man-portable air defence system (MANPADS) SAM-7. It was first developed in 1959, and used in battle in 1968. The system is still being used today. 

This weapon system has an infrared seeker sensor and a range of 5 km. Its other technical characteristics are as follows:  

• Maximum range: 3,200 meters 
• Maximum altitude: 2,000 meters 
• Minimum altitude: 50 meters 
• Minimum range: 800 meters
• Maximum target speed: 220 meters per second 
• Maximum missile flight speed: 385 meters per second 
• Total weight: 14.5 kg 
• Missile weight: 9.2 kg
• Warhead weight: 1.15 kg 
• Missile Length: 1.42 meters 
• Missile diameter: 72 mm
• Stabilization wingspan: 300 mm
• Launcher length: 149 cm
• Launcher diameter: 100 mm
• Set up for fire: 6 seconds
• Reaction time: 5 seconds
• Self-destruction time: 14 to 17 seconds
• Crew: 1

Finally, the German Ministry of Defence has been considering in recent days what kind of other weapons could be supplied to Kyiv in the near future.

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