The IRIS-T (" InfraRed Imaging System Tail/ Thrust Vector-Controlled") is a medium range

infrared homing Infrared homing is a passive weapon guidance system which uses the infrared (IR) light emission from a target to track and follow it seamlessly. Missiles which use infrared seeking are often referred to as "heat-seekers" since infrared is radi ...

missile available in both air-to-air and ground defence surface-to-air variants. The missile was developed in the late 1990s–early 2000s by a German-led program to develop a short to medium range infrared homing air-to-air missile to replace the AIM-9 Sidewinder in use by some

NATO The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO, ; french: Organisation du traité de l'Atlantique nord, ), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental military alliance between 30 member states – 28 European and two No ...

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. 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 ), and a separate command vehicle that can be positioned up to 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 The 3M-54 Kalibr, (Калибр, caliber), also referred to it as 3M54-1 Kalibr, 3M14 Biryuza (Бирюза, turquoise), (NATO reporting name SS-N-27 Sizzler and SS-N-30A) is a family of Russian cruise missiles developed by the Novator Design Bur ...

History

Background

In the 1980s,

countries signed a Memorandum of Agreement that the United States would develop a medium-range air-to-air missile to replace the

AIM-7 Sparrow The AIM-7 Sparrow (Air Intercept Missile) is an American, medium-range semi-active radar homing air-to-air missile operated by the United States Air Force, United States Navy, and United States Marine Corps, as well as other various air forces ...

, while the UK and Germany would develop a short-range air-to-air missile to replace the AIM-9 Sidewinder. The US design developed as the

AIM-120 AMRAAM The AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile, or AMRAAM (pronounced ), is an American beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) capable of all-weather day-and-night operations. It is 7 inches (18 cm) in diameter, and employs ...

, while the UK-German design developed as the AIM-132 ASRAAM. The roots of the ASRAAM dated back to 1968 when development began on the

Hawker Siddeley Hawker Siddeley was a group of British manufacturing companies engaged in aircraft production. Hawker Siddeley combined the legacies of several British aircraft manufacturers, emerging through a series of mergers and acquisitions as one of onl ...

SRAAM ('Taildog'), but 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. In the intervening time, the need for high maneuverability was downgraded in favor of greater range. After

German reunification German reunification (german: link=no, Deutsche Wiedervereinigung) was the process of re-establishing Germany as a united and fully sovereign state, which took place between 2 May 1989 and 15 March 1991. The day of 3 October 1990 when the Ge ...

in 1990, Germany found itself with large stockpiles of the Soviet

Vympel R-73 The R-73 (NATO reporting name AA-11 ''Archer'') is a short-range air-to-air missile developed by Vympel NPO that entered service in 1984. Development The R-73 was developed to replace the earlier R-60 (AA-8 'Aphid') weapon for short-range use b ...

missiles (NATO reporting name: ''AA-11 Archer'') carried by the

MiG-29 The Mikoyan MiG-29 (russian: Микоян МиГ-29; NATO reporting name: Fulcrum) is a twin-engine fighter aircraft designed in the Soviet Union. Developed by the Mikoyan design bureau as an air superiority fighter during the 1970s, the Mi ...

Fulcrum and concluded that the AA-11's capabilities had been noticeably underestimated. In particular, it was found to be both far more maneuverable, and far more capable in terms of seeker acquisition and tracking than the latest AIM-9 Sidewinder. In 1990, Germany withdrew from the ASRAAM project, while the UK resolved to find another seeker and develop ASRAAM according to the original requirements. In late 1990, the US partnership expressed similar concerns and embarked on an upgrade to the existing Sidewinder design to provide increased maneuverability and IRCCM (infrared ''counter'' counter measures) performance, i.e. measures to counter infrared countermeasures (IRCM). This program was designated AIM-9X.

Development

In 1995, Germany announced the start of IRIS-T development, in collaboration with Greece, Italy, Norway, Sweden and Canada. Canada later dropped out, while in 2003 Spain joined as a partner for procurement. The

German Air Force The German Air Force (german: Luftwaffe, lit=air weapon or air arm, ) is the aerial warfare branch of the , the armed forces of Germany. The German Air Force (as part of the ''Bundeswehr'') was founded in 1956 during the era of the Cold War a ...

took first delivery of the missile on 5 December 2005. The respective share of the development of the IRIS-T are: *Germany 46% *Italy 19% *Sweden 18% *Greece 13% *4% split between Canada and Norway.

Missile characteristics

In comparison to the AIM-9M Sidewinder, the IRIS-T has higher

ECM ECM may refer to: Economics and commerce * Engineering change management * Equity capital markets * Error correction model, an econometric model * European Common Market Mathematics * Elliptic curve method * European Congress of Mathematics ...

-resistance and flare suppression. Improvements in target discrimination allow for 5 to 8 times longer head-on firing range than the AIM-9M. It can also engage targets behind the launching aircraft, the latter made possible by the extreme close-in agility allowing turns of 60 ''g'' at a rate of 60°/s via thrust vectoring and LOAL capability. 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. In addition, 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. 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 also have a high probability of a killing shot against UAVs and other small manoeuvring threats at very-short and medium-range distances. 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. This basic air-to-ground capability provides the ability to acquire, track and engage individual ground targets like boats, ships, small buildings and vehicles.

Variants

IDAS

The IDAS variant is a navalized version of the missile, and is also being developed for the new

Type 212A submarine The Type 212A is a class of diesel-electric submarine developed by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft AG (HDW) for the German Navy (German: ''U-Boot-Klasse 212 A''), and the Italian Navy where it is known as the ''Todaro'' class. It features diesel ...

of the German Navy. IDAS is supposed to engage air threats, small or medium surface vessels or near land targets. File:BGT IDAS.jpg, Model of IDAS File:Barracuda torpedo and IDAS.jpg, IDAS and

Barracuda A barracuda, or cuda for short, is a large, predatory, ray-finned fish known for its fearsome appearance and ferocious behaviour. The barracuda is a saltwater fish of the genus ''Sphyraena'', the only genus in the family Sphyraenidae, which was ...

torpedo on TechDemo'08 Exhibition, 2008

Ground-to-air

As a part of the NATO MEADS program, the

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 GPS-aided inertial navigation system with radar data link for command guidance during the initial approach, while the interference-resistant IR seeker head is activated at the terminal stage. Compared to the IRIS-T, diameter of the rocket motor was increased by 25 mm to 152 mm. Test launches from a battery cosisting of CEA CEAFAR radar, Diehl IRIS-T SL launcher and Oerlikon Skymaster battle management system were performed in 2014.https://www.armyrecognition.com/january_2014_global_defense_security_news_industry/diehl_defence_successfully_demonstrated_iris-t_slm_ground_based_air_defence_system_2801142.html The IRIS-T SL qualification tests were completed during January 2015 at the Denel Overberg Test Range in South Africa. 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 at 20 km maximum altitude. A third variant, IRIS-T SLX (long range) variant with a dual-mode (IR and RF) seeker, range of 80 km and maximum altitude of 30 km, is in development as of April 2022. Operational testing of IRIS-T SLM was completed in January 2022. File:IRIS-T_SL_SAM.jpg, IRIS-T SL missile File:Eldenhet 98 IRIS-T SLS.png, Bv 410 with Giraffe 1X radar and Diehl ML-98 IRIS-T SLS launcher File:MAN 7 t mil gl IRIS-T SL.jpg, MAN SX44 6x6 7-ton IRIS-T SL launcher File:ILA_2018, (1X7A6891).jpg, MAN SX45 8x8 10-ton IRIS-T SLM launcher File:MAN 10 t mil gl IRIS-T SL ILA2018-2.jpg, MAN SX45 8x8 10-ton IRIS-T SLM launcher rear File:IRIS-T-SLM-radar unit TRML-4D front ILA-2022.jpg, Hensoldt TRML-4D radar File:CEA Technologies GBMMR on MAN SX45 8x8 chassis ILA-2016.jpg, CEA CEAFAR (GBMMR) radar File:ILA 2018, Schönefeld (1X7A5463).jpg, Thales Ground Master 200 MM/C radar File:Hensoldt Twinvis, ILA 2018, Schonefeld (1X7A6906).jpg, Hensoldt TwInvis passive radar The

Swedish Army The Swedish Army ( sv, svenska armén) is the land force of the Swedish Armed Forces. History Svea Life Guards dates back to the year 1521, when the men of Dalarna chose 16 young able men as body guards for the insurgent nobleman Gustav Vas ...

fielded a ground launched version of the IRIS-T SLS, designated ''Luftvärnsrobotsystem 98'' (lvrbs 98), to replace the

RBS 70 RBS 70 (Robotsystem 70) is a man-portable air-defense system (MANPADS) designed for anti-aircraft warfare in all climate zones and with little to no support from other forces. Originally designed and manufactured by the Swedish defence firm of ...

missile system. Four missiles are carried on Eldenhet 98 (elde 98) launcher, a special version of a Bv 410 tracked, armored vehicle, with SAAB Giraffe 1X electronically scanned radar integrated in the front car. The Norwegian Army has decided to acquire a "Mobile Ground Based Air Defence System" in a direct acquisition with Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace. The deliveries are planned for 2023 and based on Iris-T launchers from Diehl Defence GmbH and radars from Weibel Scientific A/S. The system will reuse

NASAMS NASAMS (Norwegian Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System, also known as the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System) is a distributed and networked short- to medium-range ground-based air defense system developed by Kongsberg Defence & Ae ...

command and control and its network solutions, to create a "highly mobile, short-range air defence system". Initial delivery will include six modified M113 vehicles carrying IRIS-T SLS missiles; additional launchers will be based on the ACSV. IRIS-T SLM can be integrated with a variety of electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) guidance systems and

AESA Aesa or Aisa ( grc, Αἶσα) was a town of ancient Macedonia. Aesa belonged to the Delian League since it appears on a tribute list to Athens in 434/3 BCE. The editors of the Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World identify Aesa wi ...

radars, such as

Hensoldt Hensoldt AG ''(HENSOLDT)'' is a multinational corporation headquartered in Germany which focuses on sensor technologies for protection and surveillance missions in the Military, defence, security and aerospace sectors. The main product areas are r ...

TRML-4D, Thales Ground Master 200 MM/C, CEA CEAFAR, and SAAB Giraffe 4A. A version with a Lockheed-Martin Skykeeper command and control station, Giraffe 4A radar and Diehl IRIS-T SLM launcher was shown at IDEX 2019 under the name Falcon Ground Based Air Defence. Egypt ordered Diehl IRIS-T SLM launchers, Hensoldt TRML-4D radars, and fire and control stations equipped with Airbus Defence Fortion IBMS integrated battle management software, all mounted on MAN 8×8 military trucks; the deal was approved by the German government in December 2021. Further orders includes Hensoldt passive radars,https://www.hensoldt.net/stories/twinvis-passive-radar> IRIS-T SLS launchers and IRIS-T SLX long-range missiles. 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 .

Air-to-ground

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 Royal Norwegian Air Force.

Operational usage

It is unclear whether the IRIS-T can shoot down a

Kh-101 The Kh-55 (russian: Х-55, also known as RKV-500; NATO reporting name: AS-15 "Kent") is a Soviet/Russian subsonic air-launched cruise missile, designed by MKB Raduga in the 1970s. It has a range of up to and can carry nuclear warheads. Kh-5 ...

cruise missile. On 19 October 2022, Ukrainian sources stated that a Russian missile was shot down with the help of an IRIS-T air defense system, in Chernihiv Oblast, thirty kilometers from Kyiv. Photos of the wreckage of a 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", 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. Following a Russian missile attack against Ukraine on 31 October 2022,

Ukrainian Air Force The Ukrainian Air Force ( uk, Пові́тряні си́ли Збро́йних сил Украї́ни) is the air force of Ukraine and one of the five branches of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Its headquarters are in the city of Vinnytsia. W ...

stated that IRIS-T missiles had a 100% success rate when countering the attack. On 15 November footage appeared, which appears to show the downing of two cruise missiles within seconds by an IRIS-T system. One appears to be a Kalibr cruise missile.

Operators

The following operators are listed and defined as of October 2022. ; : 25 ; : IRIS-T missiles for the new Saab JAS 39 Gripen E/F variants. ; : 7 IRIS-T SLM ground-based air defense systems ordered in 2018. Further order of 400 SLM missiles, 6 IRIS-T SLS systems and 10 IRIS-T SLX systems was approved in December 2021. ; : 1,250 ; : 350 IRIS-T missiles ; : 444 IRIS-T missiles budget €217m, between 2003 and 2015. ;: 150 IRIS-T missiles ;: 1,400 IRIS-T missiles ;: 25 IRIS-T missiles delivered as interim armament for Saab JAS 39 Gripen aircraft until the completion of the

A-Darter The V3E A-Darter (Agile Darter) is a modern short-range infrared homing ("heat seeking") air-to-air missile, featuring countermeasures resistance with a 180-degree look angle and 120-degrees per second track rate, developed by South Africa's Den ...

SRAAM project. ; : 770 IRIS-T missiles. Original budget €247m, final cost €291m. ;: 450 IRIS-T missiles, designated ''Jaktrobotsystem 98'' (jrbs 98). IRIS-T SLS variant used in ground-based air defense systems. ;: 220 IRIS-T missiles ordered. to be integrated with

Northrop F-5 The Northrop F-5 is a family of supersonic light fighter aircraft initially designed as a privately funded project in the late 1950s by Northrop Corporation. There are two main models, the original F-5A and F-5B Freedom Fighter variants and t ...

F-5T Saab Jas 39 Gripen Gripen C/D and

F-16 The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is a single-engine Multirole combat aircraft, multirole fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force (USAF). Designed as an air superiority day fighter, it ...

eMLU . ;: Germany has pledged to supply Ukraine with IRIS-T SL ground-based air-defense systems. In light of the 10 October 2022 missile strikes on Ukraine, German Defense Minister

Christine Lambrecht Christine Lambrecht (born 19 June 1965) is a German lawyer and politician of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) who has been serving as the Federal Minister of Defence in the government of Chancellor Olaf Scholz since December 2021. In the gov ...

released a statement in which Germany would send the first of four vehicle-mounted IRIS-T SLM to Ukraine "in the coming days"; the original delivery date was the end of the year. The first system, of four promised, was delivered on October 11 according to a source with the German defence ministry. Systems originally designated for Egypt were diverted to Ukraine to speed the delivery.

Future operators

;: IRIS-T integration for Hungarian Saab JAS 39 Gripen MS20 Block II modernization program was ordered in December 2021. ;: IRIS-T integration for the

KF-X The KAI KF-21 ''Boramae'' (formerly known as KF-X) is a South Korean lead fighter aircraft development program with the goal of producing an advanced multirole fighter for the South Korean and Indonesian air forces. The airframe is stealt ...

fighter program was ordered in 2018.