Medium-range air defence missile system IRIS-T SLM arrived for the Estonian Air Force
On June 22 the Estonian Air Defence Wing received the first mobile air defence missile systems IRIS-T SLM (InfraRed Imaging System Tail/Thrust vector-controlled Surface-Launched Medium range) at Ämari Air Base, giving the Estonian Defence Forces the ability to engage air threats from greater distances and altitudes than the existing short-range systems. The system was procured by the Estonian Centre for Defence Investments (ECDI) from the German defence company Diehl Defence.
“This is an important day for the Estonian Defence Forces and for the Estonian Air Force. We are only beginning our journey in building up our air defence, and although it may take us months to give our operators the necessary training and bring this system to the field, we are still about to have a significant qualitative leap in air defence capabilities” said Commander of the Estonian Air Force Brigadier General Riivo Valge. “The greatest advantage of this launch system, which we have not had before, is its engagement altitude, which prevents the enemy from flying over us. When this system is deployed in the field, the enemy has to take it into account and find alternative trajectories. And because this system is tactically agile, the enemy has to make those decisions under time pressure, creating conditions for errors that we can exploit.”
The IRIS-T SLM medium-range air defence system is designed for defence against aircraft, helicopters, and cruise missiles, operating at ranges of up to approximately 40 km and altitudes of up to 20 km. With this the missile squadrons of the Air Defence Wing can restrict the freedom of action of an adversary’s air attack assets. The IRIS-T air defence missile systems can be repositioned quickly, allowing for a rapid response to changing situations and immediate needs.
“IRIS-T is a medium-range air defence system that has proven itself in Ukraine, and it brings our air defence to a new level, giving us the ability to engage an adversary from significantly greater distances and altitudes than with our existing short-range systems. The war in Ukraine has clearly shown that a strong air defence is a central part of national defence, essential for protecting our people, our defence forces’ units, and critical infrastructure,” said Minister of Defence Hanno Pevkur.
Director General of the Estonian Centre for Defence Investments (ECDI) Elmar Vaher said: “It is good to see that the joint procurement agreement signed in autumn 2023 with Diehl Defence, together with Latvia, has reached an important milestone: the system for establishing a medium-range air defence capability has arrived in Estonia, and the Estonian Defence Forces can begin training. We thoroughly assessed its entire life cycle to ensure that the procured system can also be used successfully decades from now. In doing so, we secured a solution for the Estonian Defence Forces with its capabilities, reliability of supply, and support services meet Estonia’s needs both today and in the future. In total, the ECDI has procured three firing units for the Estonian Defence Forces. The first has now arrived, and the rest will arrive next year.”
A single IRIS-T SLM fire unit typically consists of multiple launchers, a radar, and a tactical control center, supplemented by support equipment such as repair, spare parts, and reloading vehicles.
“The delivery to Estonia shows that we are able to deliver even under the significant pressure that the European air defence market is currently experiencing. With every system we deliver, we strengthen our partners’ defence capabilities, make a measurable contribution to the NATO alliance’s security architecture, and thereby also help protect the Estonian people,” stated Helmut Rauch, CEO of Diehl Defence. Diehl Defence is a leading provider of air defence systems, with its product range spanning from various air and missile defence assets and ammunition.
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