What is this IRIS-T SLS system, which Germany first supplied to Ukraine’s air defense system?
How powerful is this complex, and are there any countries that have such a system in service?
Today, the German government announced the transfer of another batch of military aid to Ukraine. This batch includes two IRIS-T SLS short-range air defense systems (being delivered for the first time), nearly 5,500 155-mm smoke shells, 10 portable GO12 radars, 4 HX81 heavy tractors and five trawls to go with them, and eight 15-ton loaders.
The first transfer of the IRIS-T SLS short-range air defense system from Germany to Ukraine is an important event. The German government indicates that, as of now, a total of 22 IRIS-T SLS launchers and an unnamed stock of missiles for them are planned to be transferred to our country, to be taken from the Bundeswehr’s warehouses and manufactured by German industry on a separate order. Therefore, it is worth focusing on the characteristics of the IRIS-T SLS complex.
The peculiarity of this air defense system is that all its elements are placed on one platform – the BvS 10 articulated amphibious tracked vehicle manufactured by BAE Systems. This complex has four launchers for IRIS-T missiles, with a range and height of target destruction of up to 10 km and 6 km, respectively. The missiles are guided by the Giraffe radar, which is located in the front of the vehicle and has a target detection range of up to 25 km and a height of up to 10 km, respectively.
But the IRIS-T missile guidance algorithm itself is interesting because it combines the use of satellite navigation, an inertial guidance system, receiving target guidance from radar, and direct targeting by infrared GNSS.
According to The Military Balance 2023, only Sweden had a short-range IRIS-T SLS until now (eight units, locally designated RBS98).
The Bundeswehr itself uses the Ozelot system in the short-range segment of systems on the chassis of the Wiesel 2 airborne tank, which can use missiles for Stinger or Mistral MANPADS.
