Combat-Proven Ground-Based Air Defence By Diehl Defence
AIR defence systems are used to protect populations, important buildings, objects as well as ground troops against attacks from the air. Particularly, ground-based air defence is capable of providing continuous area protection over the long term. 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.
Diehl Defence has therefore developed a 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 for the defence against hypersonic missiles.
The IRIS-T SLM is currently considered to be the most modern, combat-proven ground-based air defence system designed for countering threats posed by enemy aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles and drones at an effective range of up to 60km and an altitude up to 20km. Several targets can be engaged at the same time.
An IRIS-T fire unit consists of the components missile launcher, radar and tactical operations centre. The system is characterised by its real 360-degree coverage, high tactical mobility, deployability of the launchers and multiple target engagement with low personnel requirement.
The IRIS-T SLM convinces with its excellent performance in operational use. According to customers, the system achieves a very high hit rate even during waves of attack with more than 15 targets.
A core element of the ground-based air defence system is the guided missile IRIS-T which was initially developed as aircraft armament for air combat. The combination of thrust vector and aerodynamic control provides the missile with extremely high agility. The guided missile has been further developed and is used as effector in Diehl Defence ground-based air defence systems, such as IRIS-T SLM.
Meanwhile, the IRIS-T family comprises 21 user countries; they have already procured or ordered the IRIS-T air-to-air guided missile or one of Diehl Defence’s IRIS-T ground-based air defence systems and thus rely on the outstanding performance of IRIS-T-based products.
The layered air defence approach from Diehl Defence is complemented by the system IRIS-T SLS which is designed for the short range. It has a radius of 12km and covers an altitude of 6km. The system IRIS-T SLX completes the air defence portfolio. It is designed for the extended medium range and is characterised by a radius of 80km and an altitude of more than 25km.