Germany to move ahead on new short-range air defence system

The Reichstag building, the seat of the lower house of parliament Bundestag is pictured next to the Spree river in Berlin, Germany, February 25, 2016. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

BERLIN (Reuters) - The German military has decided to replace its ageing short-range air defence systems and help fill a gap that has caused concern among NATO allies following Russia's annexation of Crimea, a defence ministry spokesman said on Thursday.

U.S. and German military officials last year identified a growing gap in short-range air defence weapons, or SHORAD, in Europe, including the ability to defend against a swarm of unmanned aircraft or drones.