The missile was developed in the late 1990s–early 2000s by a German-led program to produce a short to medium range infrared homing air-to-air missile to replace the
AIM-9 Sidewinder in use by some
NATO member countries at the time. A goal of the program was for any aircraft capable of firing the Sidewinder to also be capable of launching the IRIS-T.[8] The air-to-air variant was fielded in 2005.
Surface-to-air
defence systems variants came later, with the short-range IRIS-T SLS fielded in 2015, and the medium-range IRIS-T SLM fielded in 2022. One IRIS-T SLM battery, as supplied by Germany to Ukraine, consists of three truck-mounted launchers, carrying eight missiles each (with a range of 40 kilometres or 25 miles), and a separate command vehicle that can be positioned up to 20 kilometres (12 mi) away. The command vehicle integrates multiple radar sources, and is able to launch and track all 24 missiles simultaneously. The IRIS-T SLM can counter surface-to-air missiles and cruise missiles, including low-flying, stealthy missiles such as the
Kalibr.[9]
History
Background
The roots of the
ASRAAM date back to 1968 when development began on the
Hawker SiddeleySRAAM ("Taildog"). This project ended in 1974 with no production orders. This work was dusted off for the UK–German effort, with the Germans providing a new seeker, and the UK providing most of the remaining components.
After
German reunification in 1990, Germany found itself with large stockpiles of the Soviet
Vympel R-73 missiles (NATO reporting name: AA-11 Archer) carried by the
MiG-29 Fulcrum and concluded that the AA-11's capabilities had been noticeably underestimated.[10] In particular, it was found to be both far more manoeuvrable and capable in terms of seeker acquisition and tracking than the latest
AIM-9 Sidewinder.[11][better source needed] In 1990, Germany withdrew from the ASRAAM project, while the UK resolved to find another seeker and develop ASRAAM according to the original range requirement.[12] This ultimately led to the ASRAAM gaining a significantly more capable 128×128 focal array seeker with IRCCM (infrared counter countermeasures) capability, similar performance and notably half the unit cost of the IRIS-T due to the development work that had already been completed on the missile body.[citation needed]
In 1987, after years of silence on the program, the US proposed a requirement that the weapon must use Sidewinder rails rather than the universal aircraft rail adaptor named the "missile support unit" that had been developed. This delayed the project by one year as the British, German and Norwegian proposals were redesigned. Fearing erosion of its industrial base, the US proposed it would choose the latest version of its existing Sidewinder design with increased manoeuvrability and IRCCM unless the European partners increased the US industrial workshare,[13] designated
AIM-9X.[14] However, the Sidewinder upgrade proposal failed to interest NATO buyers and, in 1992, the missile development programme ultimately separated with the UK the ASRAAM, France the
MBDA MICA, US the AIM-9X and Germany electing to restart development on what became the IRIS-T.
Development
In 1995, Germany announced the start of the IRIS-T development, in collaboration with Greece, Italy, Norway, Sweden and Canada. Canada later dropped out, while Spain joined as a procurement partner in 2003.[15] The
German Air Force took first delivery of the missile in December 2005.[16]
NAMMO Raufoss supplies the rocker engine with its TVC (trust vector control) for both the IRIS-T air-to-air missile and the SL variants. [17][18]
Missile characteristics
In comparison to the AIM-9M Sidewinder, the IRIS-T has higher
ECM resistance and flare suppression.[19] Improvements in target discrimination allow for five to eight times longer head-on firing range than the AIM-9M. It can engage targets behind the launching aircraft, made possible by extreme close-in agility, allowing turns of 60 g at a rate of 60°/s via thrust vectoring and
LOAL capability.[20][5]
The IRIS-T is able to intercept fast-moving and miniature targets, such as air-to-air/surface-to-air missiles and air-to-surface/surface-to-surface missiles and rockets, UAV/drones, and cruise missiles. To improve the probability of a direct hit, the missile is equipped with an active radar proximity fuze.[21]
The IRIS-T has the unique ability, in comparison to other similar missiles such as the AIM-9X, to target and shoot down other air-to-air and surface-to-air missiles, thus offering a 360° defence capability.[22][5] Surface launched variants of the IRIS-T, the IRIS-T SLS and IRIS-T SLM, have enhanced capabilities to destroy aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, air-to-surface missiles, anti-ship missiles, anti-radar rockets and large-calibre rockets. They have a high probability of a killing shot against UAVs and other small manoeuvring threats at very-short and medium-range distances.[23]
The
Royal Norwegian Air Force (RNoAF) has tested a new air-to-surface capability developed by Diehl BGT Defence for the IRIS-T. A proof of concept test firing to acquire, track, and engage a target representing a small fast attack boat was conducted in Norway in September 2016, where the IRIS-T missile was launched from an RNoAF F-16AM multirole aircraft. For the air-to-surface role, the missile retains the same standard IRIS-T AAM hardware configuration, including the HE warhead and IIR guidance package, with only an updated software insertion required to deliver the additional ground attack capability.[24] This basic air-to-ground capability provides the ability to acquire, track and engage individual ground targets like boats, ships, small buildings and vehicles.[25]
Variants
Operational
IRIS-T air-to-air missile
It is the initial variant of the IRIS-T missile.
IRIS-T SL surface-to-air missiles
Wikimedia Commons has media related to IRIS-T SAM.
As a part of the NATO
MEADS program, the
German Air Force and others are now using a surface-launched (SL) radar-guided version of the missile, called IRIS-T SL. It has a pointed nose, unlike the regular IRIS-T, with a jettisonable drag-reducing nose cone. The missile uses a GPS-aided inertial navigation system, with radar data link for command guidance during the initial approach. The interference-resistant IR seeker head is activated at the terminal stage.[26][27]
Compared to the IRIS-T, the diameter of the rocket motor was increased by 25 mm, to 152 mm. Test launches from a battery consisting of a
CEA CEAFAR radar, a Diehl IRIS-T SL launcher and an Oerlikon Skymaster battle management system were performed in 2014.[28] The IRIS-T SL qualification tests were completed in January 2015 at the
Denel Overberg Test Range in South Africa.[29]
By 2022, two variants were available: IRIS-T SLS (short-range) with 12 km range and altitude and IRIS-T SLM (medium range) with 40 km range and 20 km maximum altitude. A third variant, IRIS-T SLX (long range) variant with a dual-mode (IR and RF) seeker, a range of 80 km and a maximum altitude of 30 km, is in development as of April 2022[update].[30][full citation needed][31] Operational testing of the IRIS-T SLM was completed in January 2022.[32][full citation needed]
An IRIS-T SL missile
A Bv 410 with Giraffe 1X radar and Diehl ML-98 IRIS-T SLS launcher
A MAN SX44 6x6 7-ton IRIS-T SL launcher
A MAN SX45 8x8 10-ton IRIS-T SLM launcher
A MAN SX45 8x8 10-ton IRIS-T SLM launcher rear
A Hensoldt TRML-4D radar
A CEA CEAFAR (GBMMR) radar
The Thales Ground Master 200 MM/C radar
A Hensoldt TwInvis passive radar
In 2019, the
Swedish Army fielded a ground launched version of the IRIS-T SLS, designated Luftvärnsrobotsystem 98 (lvrbs 98), to replace the
RBS 70 missile system. Four missiles are carried on Eldenhet 98 (elde 98) launcher, a special version of a
Bv 410 tracked, armored vehicle.[33][34]
The
Norwegian Army ordered the "mobile ground based air defence system", based on
NASAMS command and control solutions, in a direct acquisition with
Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace.[35] The system will integrate tracked IRIS-T SLS launchers from Diehl Defence GmbH with
High Mobility Launchers for
AIM-120 and
AIM-9X missiles and radars from
Weibel Scientific; initial delivery is planned for 2023 and will include six modified
M113 vehicles carrying IRIS-T SLS missiles, while additional launchers will be based on the
ACSV.[36]
The IRIS-T SLM can be integrated with a variety of electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) guidance systems and
AESA radars, such as
HensoldtTRML-4D, Thales
Ground Master 200 MM/C, CEA
CEAFAR, and
Saab Giraffe 4A.[21] A version with a
Lockheed-Martin Skykeeper command and control station,[37] Giraffe 4A radar and Diehl IRIS-T SLM launcher was shown at
IDEX 2019 under the name Falcon Ground Based Air Defence.[38][39][40]
Egypt ordered Diehl IRIS-T SLM launchers, Hensoldt TRML-4D radars, and fire and control stations equipped with
Airbus Defence Fortion IBMS[41] integrated battle management software, all mounted on MAN 8×8 military trucks; the deal was approved by the German government in December 2021.[42] Further orders includes Hensoldt
TwInvis [
de]passive radars,[43][44] IRIS-T SLS launchers and IRIS-T SLX long-range missiles.[45][46][30] Passive radars can detect enemy aircraft by analysing reflections from external radio and television signals, making them effective in urban areas where active radars struggle.[47]
The
German Air Force is to receive its first IRIS-T SLM system in 2024 and five more by 2027. Also, mixed SLS/SLM systems are being planned.[48]
Due to increased demand due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Diehl Defence is increasing production of IRIS-T systems and missiles. It plans to produce three to four systems in 2024 and at least eight in 2025, with missile production planned to grow to around 400 to 500 per year starting in 2024.[49]
In development
IRIS-T FCAAM air-to-air missile
Diehl mentioned in 2022 that it was working on a 6th generation of short-range air-to-air missiles, and it is known as the "Future Combat Air-to-Air Missile". This missile is being designed to become one of the weapon of the European
Future Combat Air System. [50]
IRIS-T air-to-surface missile
For the air-to-surface role, the only difference from air-to-air version is an updated software insertion required to deliver the additional ground attack capability. Tested by the
Royal Norwegian Air Force.[51]
Naval surface-to-air missile
Diehl mentioned that the IRIS-T SLM missile was being integrated to the Mk 41 vertical launching system. [52]
The IDAS variant is a naval version of the missile, and is also being developed for the new
Type 212A submarine of the
German Navy. IDAS is supposed to engage air threats, small or medium surface vessels or near land targets. [53]
The latest stage of development qualification is planned for 2024. [54]
An IDAS and a
Barracuda torpedo at the TechDemo'08 Exhibition, 2008
Operational usage
On 19 October 2022, Ukrainian sources stated that an IRIS-T air defense system had shot down a Russian missile in Chernihiv Oblast, thirty kilometers from Kyiv. Photos of the wreckage of an IRIS-T missile were shared on social media, and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that IRIS-T "is a really effective system" and "has shown itself very well", but there was no evidence that the German IRIS-T SLM shot down that particular missile, and some Ukrainian sources stated that it had been shot down with a different system.[55]
Following another Russian missile attack against Ukraine on 31 October 2022, the
Ukrainian Air Force stated that IRIS-T missiles had a 100% success rate countering the attack.[56]
On 15 November, footage appearing to show the IRIS-T system shooting down two cruise missiles circulated. One missile appeared to be a Kalibr cruise missile.[57][58]
On 23 November 2023, the
German Federal Ministry of Defence announced that an additional four IRIS-T SLM medium-range air defense systems will be supplied to Ukraine as part of a military aid package worth more than €1.3 billion (US$1.4 billion). The systems will be supplied from 2025. The package also includes drones and drone-defense systems, demining vehicles, satellite communications, electronic warfare equipment, directional anti-tank mines and artillery shells.[59]
According to a video published on the Twitter account "Ukraine Weapons Tracker".
Operators
The following operators are listed and defined as of June 2023.
1,250 missiles in a first order[60] in 2023 a framework contract for up to 1,280 missiles was signed to replace those given as aid to Ukraine (120 ordered in a first batch)[63]
Norway is developing its short range air defence, the mobile ground-based air defence system.[79] It is using elements of the NASAMS 3 system, and elements from the IRIS-T SLS system. The purchase includes:
36 IRIS-T SLS missiles
6 mobile launchers
PMMC G5 equipped with 6 IRIS-T SLS canister launchers and a XENTA-M
X-band radars designed by
Weibel Scientific
3 High Mobility Launcher (HML)
HMMWV-based equipped with a roof rack with up to 4
AIM-120B AMRAAM or 6 AIM-120C missiles
a command and control system based on the NASAMS 3.
IRIS-T SLS known as Luftvärnsrobotsystem 98 or lvrbs 98. It was ordered in 2013, first system used for trial was delivered in 2016.[80] The system is made of:
Germany
provided military aid packages to Ukraine facing the Russian invasion.
12 IRIS-T SLM systems,[81][82][83][84] among which, 3 delivered (1 in October 2022,[85] 1 in April 2023,[86] 1 in October 2023[87]), and additional IRIS-T SLM missiles are being supplied by Germany.
24 IRIS-T SLS launchers, with two delivered. Six IRIS-T SLS Launchers form one battery each, that use the above mentioned IRIS-T SLM systems, but are equipped with IRIS-T SLS launchers.[88]
The IRIS-T batteries are all equipped with the fire control system Airbus Fortion IBMS-FC and the radar
TRML-4D from
Hensoldt. All those systems use the
MAN HX2 platform.
In May 2023, the Latvian and Estonian governments announced their decision to jointly procure the IRIS-T SLM systems, with deliveries expected in 2025.[89]
6 IRIS-T SLM air defence units ordered in June 2023 as part of the
European Sky Shield Initiative.[90] (€900 million). Overall 8 SLM systems and additional SLS systems planned.
Swiss Air Force – Tender for Bodluv MR Programme launched in April 2024. Armasuisse requested an offer to
Diehl for a medium range air defence system (a variant of the IRIS-T SL). Diehl is in competition against
MBDA (with potentially the
CAMM,
CAMM-ER or
MICA-VL) and
Kongsberg /
Raytheon (with the
NASAMS or MGBAD).[96][97] Programme information: tender launched 30 April 2024, offer to be provided by July 2024, decision expected in the third quarter 2024 and the financing and order is planned with the armament program 2025. Note: "
ESSI participation doesn't preclude the system choice"
As part of he ESSI (
European Sky Shield Initiative), a common European air defence system which will be made of mostly IRIS-T SL and the
MIM-104 Patriot System. The ESSI initiative includes some countries that are already clients (Germany, Latvia, Estonia, Norway), or soon to be clients (Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, Denmark)