Germany has handed over the second of four promised Iris-T SLM air defense missile systems to Ukraine. According to information published by the German weekly news magazine "SPIEGEL" on April 19, 2023, the delivery of one Iris-T SLM system and 16 guided missiles took place a few days ago, around April 16th, 2023.
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The Iris-T SLM is a German-made air defense missile system produced and manufactured by the company Dhiel. (Picture source Dhiel)
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) had indicated in the summer of 2022 that the state-of-the-art air defense weapon would be transferred. The system was developed by the German defense corporation Diehl Defence, based in Überlingen on Lake Constance.
The first Iris-T SLM system was delivered to Ukraine in October of the previous year. Egypt, which has commissioned several systems from Diehl Defence, ceded a fire unit to Ukraine.
The ground-based air defense system proved its worth in the greater Kyiv area during the winter. It played a crucial role in protecting civilian infrastructure from attacks involving missiles, cruise missiles, and drones. Strikes against energy supplies were at the heart of the Russian attacks, with the intent to make cities uninhabitable.
The IRIS-T SLM is a medium-range version of the IRIS-T SL air defense missile system, designed and manufactured by the German company Diehl Defense. This system offers comprehensive 360° protection against aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, and guided weapons. It is capable of engaging multiple targets simultaneously at very short to medium ranges with extremely quick reaction times. Various multi-function radar systems can be integrated into the IRIS-T SLM air defense system, making it suitable for both mobile and stationary deployment.
The IRIS-T SLM missile system was test-fired at the Overberg test range in January 2014, and qualification was completed in January 2015. The system is based on the IRIS-T air-to-air guided missile, which entered service with the German Air Force in December 2005. The IRIS-T missile features a high-resolution infrared seeker with a wide field of view, allowing for engagements at close and very short ranges, as well as interceptions at greater distances.
The missile is capable of destroying aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, air-to-surface missiles, anti-ship missiles, anti-radar rockets, and large-caliber rockets. Additionally, it has a high probability of achieving a kill shot against UAVs and other small maneuvering threats. The IRIS-T SLM missile has a maximum firing range of 40 km and can reach altitudes of up to 20 km.
A battery of IRIS-T SLM includes three truck-mounted launcher trucks, a multifunctional radar for target detection and tracking, and a command post truck.
