Diehl Defence signed a purchase order under the European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI) on 25 January 2024 for the procurement of the IRIS-T SLM medium-range air defence system for NATO member Slovenia.
The contract was signed with the German Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw), which held a power of attorney on behalf of Slovenia.
The purchase order includes one fire unit, consisting of a radar, a tactical operations centre and four missile launchers, along with IRIS-T SL missiles and logistic support, although the procurement of further systems is envisaged.
Slovenia’s acquisition of the IRIS-T SLM system strengthens its air defences by giving it a medium-range air defence capability for the first time.
ESSI, which was initiated by Germany in August 2022, is a project aiming to establish and strengthen a European integrated ground-based air defence system. The objectives of ESSI are to improve air defence interoperability among the NATO nations and to create synergies through joint procurements. Up to now 19 European states have declared their intention to join the project, including Austria and Switzerland in addition to 17 NATO countries, while other countries have also expressed their interest. Following Germany, Estonia and Latvia, Slovenia is the fourth ESSI nation to sign a contract with Diehl Defence for the IRIS-T SLM system, for which it was able to make use of a standardised contract for ESSI procurements. This facilitates future synergies and a quick procurement process, from which further ESSI customers and also industry benefit.
In order to ensure the synchronised delivery of IRIS-T SLM systems to the ESSI nations, Diehl Defence has distributed production slots to the interested nations in such a way that the system can also be delivered to Slovenia in due time.
Within the Diehl Defence product range, the IRIS-T SLM system is designed to counter threats posed by enemy aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles out to a range of up to 40 km and an altitude of up to 20 km. The system is characterised by its high tactical mobility, deployability of the missile launchers, multiple target engagement capability and low personnel requirement.
Diehl Defence has said that the operational performance of the IRIS-T SLM air defence system in Ukraine has been “excellent”, stating, “According to the customer, the system achieved a very high hit rate even during waves of attack with more than 12 targets.”
In addition, the IRIS-T SLM represents the core of the new German ‘Short and Very Short Range Air Defence System’ (LVS NNbS) to be produced by the ARGE NNbS consortium, which, as well as Diehl Defence, also includes Rheinmetall Electronics and Hensoldt Sensors. The BAAINBw signed an LVS NNbS development contract worth around EUR 1.2 billion with ARGE NNbS on 25 January 2024.
