Germany approves new defense acquisition with €1B IRIS-T SLM air defense missile systems.

Germany’s Bundestag Budget Committee has cleared a €3.85 billion package for multiple Bundeswehr defense programs, including funding for additional IRIS-T SLM air defense missile systems. The move reflects Berlin’s push to speed up air defense modernization as European threat dynamics evolve.

Germany has expanded its defense investment plan with a €3.85 billion package approved by the Bundestag Budget Committee, which includes fresh funding for additional IRIS-T SLM air defense missile systems. The update was highlighted by open source defense analyst Jeff2146 on X, and while the German Ministry of Defence has not yet issued a formal release, the allocation fits Berlin’s pattern of accelerating ground-based air defense procurement. German lawmakers have pointed to Russia’s evolving missile and drone tactics and the operational lessons drawn from Ukraine as central factors driving these rapid spending measures.
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The IRIS-T SLM is a German-made ground-based air defense system designed to intercept aircraft, drones, and cruise missiles at ranges up to 40 km and altitudes over 20 km, providing 360-degree protection against modern aerial threats. (Picture source: German MoD)

The decision to acquire more IRIS-T SLM air defense missile systems reflects Berlin’s determination to strengthen national air defense in response to Russia’s accelerating missile programs and the operational lessons drawn from the war in Ukraine, where sustained drone and cruise missile attacks exposed critical gaps across Europe’s defensive posture.

The €1 billion package will allow the Bundeswehr to expand its stock of IRIS-T SLM interceptors, add additional launcher elements, and enhance the radar and command systems needed for integrated operation within NATO air defense networks. The funding ensures that Diehl Defence can scale production and secure supply chains at a time when international demand for European-made air defense systems is rising sharply. It also positions Germany to deploy more IRIS-T SLM fire units across its territory and within NATO’s rapid reaction commitments, supporting deterrence and readiness goals set by the Ministry of Defence.

The IRIS-T SLM system is a surface-launched variant of the IRIS-T missile family developed by the German Company Diehl Defense in cooperation with Hensoldt and Airbus. It provides 360-degree engagement capability and can intercept targets at ranges up to 40 kilometers and altitudes above 20 kilometers. Its strong performance in Ukraine, where the system has repeatedly intercepted Russian cruise missiles, guided rockets, and drones, has significantly influenced German procurement strategy. Berlin views IRIS-T SLM as the core medium-range layer of its emerging multi-tiered missile shield, which will operate alongside short-range mobile systems and long-range assets such as Patriot.

Germany’s renewed focus on air defense is driven by strategic necessity. The conflict in Ukraine demonstrated how modern battlefields are defined by dense layers of aerial threats, including loitering munitions, low-flying cruise missiles, and coordinated drone swarms. German planners concluded that the Bundeswehr’s previous inventory lacked the depth and resilience required to counter these evolving threats. The new investment marks a substantial step toward remedying this vulnerability and building a structure capable of defending both national territory and critical NATO infrastructure.

This urgency is further compounded by classified threat assessments, circulated among key Bundestag security committees and defense staff, which point to a rising risk of a future direct conflict between NATO and Russia within the next five to eight years. These assessments, informed by Russian force posture, rearmament trends, and destabilizing hybrid operations across the Baltic and Black Sea regions, have heightened Berlin’s concern over its existing air defense shortfalls. The procurement of additional IRIS-T SLM systems is part of Germany’s active measures to close these gaps before they are tested in a potential near-peer conflict scenario.

The procurement package also includes provisions for upgraded software, improved sensor integration, and interoperability with the European Sky Shield Initiative, in which Germany serves as the lead nation. 

By committing €1 billion to expanding IRIS-T SLM, Berlin is sending a clear message that air defense is a top priority in its modernization agenda. The investment strengthens Germany’s position as a central contributor to European collective defense while ensuring that the Bundeswehr can respond to the type of sustained aerial threat environment that has become a defining feature of modern warfare.

Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.