The new close-in air defense system

On the eve of this year’s International Aerospace Exhibition (ILA) in Berlin (June 10–14), DIEHL DEFENCE will present the latest version of its highly mobile air defense system, known as the IRIS-T SLS MK 4, to industry professionals. The short-range air defense system is specifically designed to protect troops on the move and critical infrastructure from airborne threats. This fourth generation of the IRIS-T SLS system has an effective range of 12 km and an altitude coverage of up to 6 km.

The system combines radar, C2, and launchers—including effectors—on a single vehicle, making it an “all-in-one” solution. Thanks to its high mobility and compact design, the air defense system can be deployed in a very short time. Other key features of the IRIS-T SLS MK 4 include a high degree of automation and the resulting low personnel requirements, which enable an extremely fast response time. The vehicle-independent design allows for maximum flexibility to meet diverse customer requirements.

The proven IRIS-T air-to-air guided missile is used as the effector. Its hardware remains unchanged and will enable “fire-on-the-move” capability in the future—firing the missile while on the move. The integration of additional effectors, such as the C-UAV eMissile CICADA from Diehl Defence or a weapon station, is also possible.

The SLS system is already fully integrated into the DIEHL DEFENCE concept of multi-layered air defense. The further development and upgrade to the MK 4 version consistently meet NATO standards and operational requirements, including through an increased payload capacity with an eightfold loading capacity and the resulting enhancement in combat effectiveness. The IRIS-T missile is and remains the core element of ground-based air defense at DIEHL DEFENCE, including in the battle-proven SLS system. As an air defense system with future-proof capabilities, IRIS-T SLS MK 4 delivers high performance in dynamic threat scenarios.

DIEHL DEFENCE online