Sweden Orders Additional IRIS-T SLS Air Defense Missile Launchers from German Company Diehl Defence.

German Company Diehl Defence confirmed that Sweden's FMV has awarded a new contract for additional IRIS-T SLS launchers, along with a full logistics support package. The order strengthens Sweden's short-range air defense coverage amid heightened regional security demands.

German Company Diehl Defence announced on December 11, 2025, that the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration has placed a follow-on order for additional IRIS-T SLS air defense missile launchers, a move that Stockholm views as a critical upgrade to its layered ground-based air defense network. Company officials described the package as a combined procurement of launchers, spare parts, and long-term sustainment materials, a structure that mirrors previous FMV contracts intended to keep the system combat-ready throughout its service life. While neither side disclosed the contract value, the deal underscores Sweden's steady investment in short-range interceptors as its armed forces expand air defense readiness across key deployments.
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The IRIS-T SLS is a short-range, ground-based air defense system that uses the air-to-air IRIS-T missile in a surface-launched configuration, providing 360-degree protection against aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, and drones with high precision and rapid response. (Picture source: Wikimedia)

The Swedish Army has operated the IRIS-T SLS air defense missile system since 2019, when the first battery was officially declared operational by the Swedish Air Defence Regiment (Luftvärnsregementet, Lv6). Following delivery and integration trials that began in 2016, Sweden became the first international customer to bring the IRIS-T SLS into frontline service, marking a key milestone in its post-Cold War air defense modernization. The system is currently fielded with the 61st Air Defence Battalion, where it serves as the backbone of short-range protection for mobile formations and critical infrastructure.

The IRIS-T SLS (Surface Launched Short Range) is the lowest-tier component of the modular IRIS-T Ground-Based Air Defense (GBAD) family developed by Germany’s Diehl Defence. It employs the same IRIS-T missile used on the Saab JAS 39 Gripen in its original air-to-air role, adapted for ground launch with no modification to the missile body. This allows armed forces to leverage an already fielded munition across both air and ground domains, significantly reducing lifecycle costs and streamlining logistics.

In the SLS configuration, the missile is launched from mobile or stationary vertical canister launchers and cued by a range of radar and sensor systems, depending on national requirements. With a range of approximately 12 kilometers and altitudes reaching up to 8 kilometers, the system provides rapid 360-degree coverage against modern air threats, including cruise missiles, fast jets, helicopters, and unmanned aerial systems. Thanks to its thrust-vectoring motor and advanced imaging infrared seeker, the IRIS-T offers exceptional accuracy and maneuverability even in complex electronic warfare environments.

Unlike its medium-range sibling, the IRIS-T SLM, the SLS is designed to move with frontline units and provide agile short-range protection against low-flying and time-sensitive threats. Its deployment is especially relevant to Sweden’s geographically dispersed defense concept, where mobility and layered coverage are essential for countering regional threats across the air, sea, and land domains.

In June 2025, Sweden announced a separate order for 7 units of the IRIS-T SLM system, underscoring its strategic pivot toward building a fully layered, integrated national air defense shield. The new SLS launcher order complements that procurement by ensuring robust short-range coverage, particularly around key military assets and logistics nodes. Together, the SLS and SLM systems form a synchronized defensive network that aligns with NATO interoperability standards and supports Sweden’s broader deterrence posture.

A senior official at FMV told Army Recognition that “Sweden’s investment in layered air defense is not only a response to growing regional air threats, but also part of our commitment to strengthening national resilience and contributing to allied defense under NATO’s evolving integrated air and missile defense architecture.” The official emphasized that the IRIS-T systems were chosen for their proven performance, operational flexibility, and deep industrial partnerships with European allies.

Under the new contract, deliveries of the additional SLS launchers will begin in early 2026. The systems will be integrated with Sweden’s existing command and sensor networks, with support provided by Diehl Defence and Swedish defense industry partners. The accompanying logistics package ensures sustained operational readiness, including spare parts, maintenance, and technical support.

To date, the IRIS-T missile family is operational in 21 countries, with configurations ranging from air-launched missiles on fighter jets to ground-based short and medium-range systems. The IRIS-T SLS remains one of the few GBAD solutions globally that directly leverages existing air force missile stockpiles, offering a fast, scalable, and cost-effective air defense solution for modern battlefield requirements.

Sweden’s renewed commitment to the IRIS-T SLS underscores its recognition of the growing complexity of air threats in the Nordic-Baltic region. With rising tensions along NATO’s northeastern flank and an increasingly contested airspace, Stockholm’s push for layered, mobile, and interoperable air defense capabilities sends a clear strategic signal about national preparedness and alliance solidarity.

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.