Short-Medium Distributed Defense Ukraine Active

IRIS-T SLM

IRIS-T Surface Launched Medium Range

Medium-range air-defense system

System Status
Active
Updated 2026-07-29
IRIS-T SLS (shorter-range) IRIS-T SLX (extended-range, in development)
Key Specifications
Range Verified
Up to 40 km
Altitude Verified
Up to 20 km
Radar Verified
TRML-4D in the published IRIS-T SLM fire-unit architecture; national configurations are not normalized here
Interceptors
IRIS-T SLM guided missile
Mobility High tactical mobility
Users / delivery paths Reported
Ukraine and Germany fielded; Estonia first fire unit received with training/fielding ahead; Latvia, Slovenia, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, and Bulgaria are publicly identified in order or procurement paths.
Procurement & Transfer Activity
2022-10

Germany delivered the first IRIS-T SLM system to Ukraine; DW reported Ukrainian announcement and German ministerial confirmation

Reported
2023-11-30

Latvia signed an order for IRIS-T SLM for approximately EUR 600 million; the manufacturer forecast deliveries from 2026

Verified
2025

Denmark, Switzerland, and Slovenia advanced IRIS-T SLM procurements

Verified
2026-06-22

Diehl announced the handover of the first IRIS-T SLM fire unit to the Estonian Air Force at Ämari Air Base

Verified
Strengths
  • + One of the cleaner publicly documented medium-range European GBAD systems
  • + Strong recent combat credibility from Ukraine use
  • + Good balance between mobility and defended-area coverage
Limitations
  • - Smaller installed base than NASAMS or Patriot
  • - Medium-range layer only; not a full upper-tier ballistic-missile solution
  • - Supply-demand pressure increased sharply after Ukraine demand and ESSI orders
Manufacturer
Diehl Defence / HENSOLDT / Airbus
Germany
Ukraine Deployment

IRIS-T SLM has been supplied to and used by Ukraine; this card does not retain unsupported exact early-delivery dates.

Sources
DW IRIS-T SLM first Ukraine delivery (Oct 2022) ↗ Diehl Defence Latvia order ↗ Diehl Estonia first fire-unit delivery (Jun 2026) ↗ Estonian Defence Forces IRIS-T SLM arrival (Jun 2026) ↗
Evidence Labels
Verified Official manufacturer or government source
Reported Credible third-party or think-tank reporting
Unavailable Official sources do not publish this figure
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