Diehl Defence: High-Tech Solutions For Modern Defence Made In Germany

AIR defence systems are used to protect populations, important infrastructure, objects and ground troops against attacks from the air. Particularly, ground-based air defence is capable of providing long-term, continuous area protection. The current global security situation favours defence systems that offer protection against a variety of hostile attacks, such as attacks from manned aircraft, unmanned aerial systems and helicopters at different ranges. Therefore, Diehl Defence has continuously developed its “Layered Air Defence Approach”, based on the IRIS-T product family. The aim is to encounter different threats and threat scenarios from very-short range to long-range and to defend even against hypersonic missiles. Diehl Defence has thus become a leading system house for state-of-the-art defence systems covering different ranges.

Based on the surface-launched version of the guided missile IRIS-T – developed and qualified taking into account the specifications of the German Armed Forces, especially against cruise missiles and high-flying unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) – Diehl Defence has successfully launched the air defence system IRIS-T SLM on the international market. By now, 10 countries have opted for air defence solutions from Diehl Defence. Besides the IRIS-T SLM system for medium-range (effective intercept range 40km, altitude coverage of 20km), which has also been commissioned by the German Armed Forces and selected for the medium interception layer of the European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI), Diehl Defence also offers the IRIS-T SLS air defence system for short-range (effective intercept range 12km, altitude coverage 6km) as part of its layered air defence approach. The consistent use of open interfaces enables flexible integration of highly mobile IRIS-T SLS units into the IRIS-T SLM architecture. The result is a combination of sensors and effectors, which can be guided centrally, de-centrally or autonomously by a common, scalable guidance system. Furthermore, it can be operated with other systems. The air defence systems IRIS-T SLM and IRIS-T SLS form a system-of-systems meeting the requirements of a “Layered Air Defence” against the modern range of threats.

System variants for extended medium-range (IRIS-T SLX, effective intercept range 80km, altitude coverage more than 25km) and for the defence against hypersonic threats (HYDEF, radius of more than 100km, altitude coverage more than 50km) are currently under development in order to complete the IRIS-T GBAD product family.

After proving the combat capabilities of the GBAD systems from land, Diehl Defence has conducted a very successful trial campaign with the German military in October 2025 to launch the same missile from naval vessels. The IRIS-T SLM naval version can be fired from a naval launcher on a 20ft container interface on the ship, providing the ship with multiple engagement capabilities against all conventional air targets within the ship’s own sensor range. Furthermore, Diehl Defence has partnered with Lockheed Martin to integrate the IRIS-T SLM missile into the MK 41 vertical launch system to provide navies with a more diverse missile portfolio and magazine depth on their vessels.

Drone Defence

Also in the area of drone defence, Diehl Defence has been using its expertise to offer solutions for counter-unmanned aerial systems (c-UAS) for years. Just like the drones themselves, which differ greatly in terms of size, range and area of application, Diehl Defence offers different c-UAS solutions from its versatile product portfolio. Two examples of c-UAS solutions are the non-kinetic HPEM-technology based Guardion for GBAD, to protect high-value assets e.g. GBAD radars, and the kinetic c-UAS system “Sky Sphere” with the new eMissile effector CICADA.

RBS15 Mk3 Anti-Ship And Coastal Defence System

Current conflicts demonstrate the fundamental importance and value of anti-ship missiles with the ability to achieve mission success across the entire engagement spectrum. RBS15 will dominate the war zone in its traditional use as armament for ships and as land-based coastal defence systems. The state-of-the-art RBS15 Mk3 missile system meets the demanding requirements of today’s and future naval scenarios for a long-range anti-ship cruise missile with deep strike land attack capability.

RBS15 Mk3 is a jointly developed version of the proven predecessor Saab RBS15 Mk2 used in the Swedish Navy and other naval forces. With the heavy anti-ship missile RBS15 Mk3, Diehl Defence delivers the main weapon for the German Navy’s corvettes of the Braunschweig-class (K130) in cooperation with the Swedish partner Saab Dynamics.

RBS15 Mk3 is a highly effective and manoeuvrable precision weapon with active radar seeker head, which is extremely jam-resistant against electronic countermeasures and assertive even in GPS-denied areas. The all-weather capable, fire-and-forget anti-ship missile is also able to successfully engage both sea and land targets at a distance of more than 200km. For this purpose, a combination of inertial and GPS-based navigation is used for the free flight. The radar seeker is mainly activated for the target location during terminal homing.

The trajectory can be configured flexibly (evasive manoeuvre and attack repetition during the terminal phase) via programmable way points and elaborated altitude regulation (sea-skimming). Low radar and infrared signature make the detection more difficult for the enemy. On account of its capabilities, the RBS15 Mk3 has a high penetration capability against air defence. The target engagement is based on a modern operational missile engagement planning system with relevant data bases. With possible multi-missile attacks the probability of success can be increased even more.

In addition to the ship-based version, RBS15 Mk3 can also be launched from a wide range of trucks according to specific customer requirements, so that a very effective coastal defence can be established quickly and easily. Since the missile can engage all ships and suitable land targets, user nations benefit from the very high system flexibility with regard to the launch platform as well as the target types (multi-platform and multi-target coordinated engagements). This flexibility makes the RBS15 Coastal Defence system the perfect match for parallel dominance in blue waters, on land and in rugged littoral waters.

A standard RBS15 Mk3 Coastal Defence battery consists of two to four launch vehicles which can operate completely standalone or can be supported by a mobile command post, an ammunition supply and “in field” repair capability – all of which are available “off-the-shelf” and currently in series production.

The modular, highly mobile and extendable RBS15 Mk3 Coastal Defence system provides maximum operational flexibility to different applications and can be tailored to the customer’s requirements. The system can be integrated into higher level command and control systems. Its low operational and logistics costs, as well as very low personnel requirements are further benefits of the RBS15 Mk3 Coastal Defence System. Currently, the armed forces of eight user nations worldwide rely on the RBS15 missile family: Sweden, Germany, Poland, Finland, Algeria, Thailand, Croatia and Bulgaria. RBS15 is designed to give you the edge to stay ahead in increasingly complex conflict scenarios – it will search, find and destroy the designated targets.

IRIS-T: Unrivalled Combat Performance

Diehl Defence’s flagship IRIS-T (InfraRed Imaging System – Tail/Thrust Vector Controlled) is a state-of-the-art fire-and-forget short-range air-to-air missile (AAM) with unrivalled close-in combat and intercept performance. It The IRIS-T guided missile was initially developed as aircraft armament for air combat and has been in service since 2005. The combination of thrust vector and aerodynamic control provides the missile with extremely high agility. The imaging IR seeker head in conjunction with intelligent image processing is another technological leap. Predictive flight path tracking and lock-on-after-launch features enable the missile to engage targets even in the rear hemisphere. The target can be designated by all suitable aircraft sensors like the airborne radar or the pilot’s helmet-mounted display system. Overall, IRIS-T is characterised by exceptional manoeuvrability and agility as well as precise aim-point selection.

IRIS-T was jointly developed by European nations; the production is managed by Diehl Defence in cooperation with industrial partners from Greece, Spain, Italy, Sweden and Norway. Representing the backbone of European air forces in terms of infrared missiles used to protect their fighter jets, it is among the standard armament of the Eurofighter/Typhoon and Gripen and is integrated into the platforms of the F-16, Tornado, EF-18, KF-21 and F-5E. Thus, IRIS-T enhances the self-defence capability and survivability of the mentioned platforms. It is an absolute export success, with the air forces of 12 nations relying on its outstanding capabilities.

Besides its role as aircraft armament, IRIS-T is also used as a surface-to-air missile (SAM), e.g. in the ground-based air defence systems IRIS-T SLS (for object and short-range protection) and IRIS-T SLM for the medium range.

In December 2024, Diehl Defence and the German procurement agency BAAINBw signed a contract for the further development and series production of the IRIS-T Block II Overall Missile System. In addition to Germany as the lead nation, presently Sweden, Spain and Italy have joined the development programme. The IRIS-T Block II contract marks an important milestone for the future of IRIS-T. The missile will be improved continuously and will continue to set benchmarks with new capabilities in its original air-to-air role. Thus, the future of IRIS-T is ensured by the multi-nations-developer-consortium.

Diehl Defence concentrates the Diehl Group’s business activities in the fields of defence and security and is a leading system house of state-of-the-art air defence systems. As partner of the German Bundeswehr and international armed forces, Diehl Defence develops and delivers high-tech equipment in the fields of ground-based air defence, guided missiles, ammunition as well as training and protection. Diehl Defence generates annual sales of over 2 billion Euros with more than 5,000 employees.