Short-Medium Distributed Defense
Ukraine Active
IRIS-T SLM
IRIS-T Surface Launched Medium Range
Medium-range air-defense system
System Status
Active
Updated 2026-03-14
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 (Diehl/HENSOLDT/Airbus configuration) Interceptors
IRIS-T SLM guided missile
Mobility High tactical mobility
Operators Verified
Ukraine and Germany fielded; Latvia, Slovenia, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland on order Procurement & Transfer Activity
2022-10
First IRIS-T SLM unit delivered to Ukraine
Verified 2023-05
Second fire unit delivered to Ukraine
Verified 2023-12
Latvia ordered IRIS-T SLM for approximately EUR 600 million
Verified 2025
Denmark, Switzerland, and Slovenia advanced IRIS-T SLM procurements
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
First unit delivered October 2022; second May 2023. Combat-proven in Ukrainian service.
Evidence Labels
Verified Official manufacturer or government source
Reported Credible third-party or think-tank reporting
Unavailable Official sources do not publish this figure