The German government has officially announced that it has provided another package of arms assistance to Ukraine, which includes an additional six Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft systems, ammunition of various calibers, including 155 mm, Vector drones, Biber engineering vehicles and other equipment.

However, this package contains a real mystery – 10 laser illuminators for IRIS-T SLM were added to the 10 fire control stations of the IRIS-T SLM, which in the original is Laserzielbeleuchter, and in the English version of the message is laser aiming equipment.

And this is indeed a mystery because IRIS-T SLM uses infrared-guided missiles, not reflected laser beams. That is, there is no need to illuminate the target with a laser for the IRIS-T missile.

IRIS-T SLM missile, nose fairing, under which the IR-GSN is located, is dropped when approaching the target

Moreover, the developer Diehl declares the extremely high sensitivity of the missile’s homing head, which sees not the high-temperature signature but the target itself, which allows it to hit surface targets such as boats with appropriate software changes. At least a relevant successful test was conducted in 2016 by the Norwegian Air Force.

Also, the IRIS-T SLM does not have a separate optical-location station where a laser illuminator could theoretically be located. The role of a passive sensor in this complex is usually played by the TwInvis electronic intelligence station from Hensoldt.

After all, the IRIS-T SLM missile has a range of up to 40 km. And at this distance, it is objectively impossible to provide effective laser illumination of the target.

Main machines of the IRIS-T SLM

And that is why it is extremely difficult to find an answer to why laser guidance systems are added to IRIS-T SLM. Of course, it is possible to assume that a semi-active laser-guided missile was integrated into the SAM. For example, the well-known APKWS, which requires a laser to illuminate an air target, among other things.

Theoretically, if the SAMs are supplemented with APKWS launchers, it is possible to defeat targets such as kamikaze drones in a very cost-effective way. But Diehl is not aware of any work in this area. So we just have to wait for more information.