Country installs missile defense system near Lake Constance
Slovenia Equips Air Defense with Advanced IRIS-T SLM System
Slovenia has bolstered its air defense capabilities with the procurement of the IRIS-T SLM system, a cutting-edge medium-range ground-based air defense system. The system, designed to intercept various airborne threats, is part of the NATO member Slovenia's defensive arsenal.
Manufactured by German defence company Diehl Defence, the IRIS-T SLM system has proven its worth in battlefield conditions, particularly in Ukraine. The Slovenian Ministry of Defense has procured three fire units of the system, with the first unit acquired in January 2024.
The IRIS-T SLM system offers a range of key features and capabilities. It employs the IRIS-T SL missile, an evolved variant of the proven IRIS-T air-to-air missile, optimized for ground launches. The missile boasts GPS-aided inertial navigation, a two-way datalink for mid-course updates, and an imaging infrared seeker, enabling highly accurate target engagement.
The system provides 360-degree coverage, engaging targets in all directions, and is capable of simultaneous multi-target engagement, including saturation attacks with more than 15 targets at once. Its tactical mobility and minimal personnel requirements make it suitable for mobile, high-readiness forces.
Each fire unit consists of missile launchers, radar systems, tactical operations centers, support vehicles, and logistical elements, ensuring sustained operational capability and ease of logistics. The system's operational combat performance has been exceptional, achieving high hit rates even against complex air attacks.
Diehl Defence, the systems house for air defense systems and part of the Nuremberg-based Diehl family business, employs around 4,500 people and generates annual sales of over two billion euros. The company also develops and produces key components such as infrared modules, fuses, and special batteries.
The European Sky Shield Initiative, with 24 member states, has played a significant role in the procurement process. The remaining two fire units are being procured under a standardized contract for ESSI procurements. The procurement process is expected to benefit from significant synergy effects due to the ESSI contract.
The IRIS-T SLM system is one of several systems in Diehl Defence's portfolio, which also includes systems for ground-based air defense, missiles for all branches of the armed forces, ammunition, and protection systems. The cost of an IRIS-T SLM fire unit is approximately 140 million euros, with a single missile estimated to cost around 400,000 euros.
The IRIS-T SLM system's advantages lie in its combination of advanced missile technology, excellent target accuracy, multi-target and 360-degree engagement, high mobility, low manpower needs, and proven operational success. It supports interoperability within NATO frameworks, particularly through the European Sky Shield Initiative, allowing joint training, logistics, and procurement benefits for member nations.
As of 2025, the IRIS-T family is adopted by 21 countries, with the IRIS-T SLM variant actively deployed operationally and procured by several European countries, including Germany, Slovenia, Switzerland, Denmark, and others.
Candidates for the Slovenian military are being encouraged to apply for the operation of the IRIS-T SLM system, the newly acquired technology revolutionizing Slovenia's air defense capabilities. With its advanced missile technology and improved target accuracy, the IRIS-T SLM system plays a crucial role in Slovenia's defensive arsenal, engaging targets in all directions and offering the capacity for simultaneous multi-target engagement.
