Germany’s federal arms procurement authority has awarded Diehl Defence a series of contracts for the acquisition of the IRIS-T missile family, covering both air-to-air and ground-based air defense roles across the German Armed Forces.
The procurement package includes air-launched IRIS-T variants for integration on the Luftwaffe’s Eurofighter and Tornado fleets, alongside interceptor versions for the IRIS-T SLS (short-range) and IRIS-T SLM (medium-range) ground-based air defense systems.
These contracts build on a 2023 framework agreement that provides for the purchase of over 1,200 IRIS-T missiles, aimed at replenishing German stockpiles following transfers to Ukraine. Deliveries are scheduled to run through 2030, with the first operational tranche due in 2026.
Originally developed in the late 1990s as a successor to the AIM-9 Sidewinder, IRIS-T has evolved from a highly agile imaging-infrared air-to-air missile into a multi-role air defense family. This evolution produced the IRIS-T SLS and IRIS-T SLM systems for layered ground-based air defense.
The SLS variant delivers 360-degree coverage using the standard air-to-air missile configuration, offering engagement ranges of up to 12 km and intercept altitudes of up to 8 km, while the SLM system extends coverage to 60 km in range and 20 km in altitude, forming Germany’s medium-range air defense layer.
With the IRIS-T family now in service with 21 nations, Diehl Defence is investing approximately €1.5 billion to expand manufacturing capacity in response to rising global demand.
