Sweden becomes the latest of the 24 European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI) countries, to opt for IRIS-T SLM as an element in its ground-based air defence armament. During a press conference on Gotland, Sweden, the country’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Minister of Defence Pål Jonson announced that the Swedish procurement agency FMV will procure seven fire units of the IRIS-T SLM ground-based air defence system. The signature event, attended by Diehl Defence CEO Helmut Rauch and CPO Dr. Harald Buschek, was part of a troop visit of the Swedish Armed Forces' P18 regiment on Gotland. Sweden is now the eighth country which has chosen IRIS-T SLM as their air defence system solution.
Sweden is also obtaining the IRIS-T SLM systems by making use of a standardized contract for ESSI procurements. This facilitates future synergy effects and enables a quick procurement process from which not only further ESSI customers, but also the industry will benefit.
Diehl Defence CEO Helmut Rauch acknowledged the good and long lasting relationship with the Swedish Armed Forces. Sweden has been an IRIS-T partner country and industrial consortium member since the start of the development of the air-to-air missile during the 1990s. In 2013 Sweden already procured IRIS-T SLS for its armed forces.
Helmut Rauch expressed: “We thank Sweden and the Swedish defence forces very much for the trustful cooperation and the long-term partnership. Diehl Defence is proud that Sweden has chosen IRIS-T SLM for its medium-range air defence.”
The systems are scheduled for delivery between mid-2028 and mid-2030.
Within the Diehl Defence product portfolio, IRIS-T SLM is designed for countering threats posed by enemy aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles and drones at a range of up to 40 km and an altitude of up to 20 km. An IRIS-T SLM fire unit consists of the components missile launcher, radar and tactical operations center. It is supplemented by support elements such as workshop, spare parts and reloading vehicles. The system is characterized by its high tactical mobility, deployability of the missile launchers and multiple target engagement with low personnel requirement. The IRIS-T SLM system convinces with its excellent performance in operational use. According to the customer, the system achieves a very high hit rate even during waves of attack with more than 12 targets.