{"id":17024,"date":"2025-04-11T18:47:31","date_gmt":"2025-04-11T17:47:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brigatafolgore.net\/?p=17024"},"modified":"2026-03-27T09:04:04","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T08:04:04","slug":"difesa-aerea-svizzera-iris-t-slm-20250411","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brigatafolgore.net\/en\/swiss-air-defense-iris-t-slm-20250411\/","title":{"rendered":"Switzerland, new IRIS-T air defense systems"},"content":{"rendered":"

Switzerland provides for the purchase<\/a> of at least four IRIS-T SLM medium-range ground-based air defense systems<\/strong>, produced by the German company Diehl Defence<\/strong>This was announced by Armasuisse, the Federal Office for Defense Procurement, confirming that negotiations with the manufacturer are currently at an advanced stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The signing of the contract is expected for the third quarter of 2025<\/strong>, within the framework of the European programme European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI)<\/strong>, to which Switzerland joined last October<\/a> such as fifteenth member country<\/strong>, with an initial focus on medium-range air defense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2023, the Swiss Parliament approved a Credit guarantee of 660 million Swiss francs<\/strong> (approximately $809 million) to support the acquisition under the Armament program 2024<\/strong>. The decision comes in the context of a growing European commitment to strengthening defence capabilities, in response to Russia's ongoing missile and drone attacks against civilian and military targets in Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe future ground-based air defence will make a decisive contribution to maintaining airspace sovereignty and protecting against attacks with long-range weapons,\u201d Armasuisse said. The new system will be integrated into the national air defence network, as part of the Integrated Air Defense (IAD)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Operational tests in mountainous environments: TRML-4D radar under examination<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A crucial step in the acquisition process has been taken between March 31 and April 11, 2025<\/strong>, with a series of radar tests TRML-4D<\/strong> provided by Hensoldt<\/strong>, conducted in collaboration with Diehl Defence and the Swiss Armed Forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The tests were conducted in two strategic locations: the federal site of Homberg<\/strong> and theEmmen airfield<\/strong>, to test the system's performance in Switzerland's complex mountainous topography \u2014 where over 70% of the territory is covered by relief, and a quarter is above 2,000 meters above sea level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The radar has demonstrated detection and classification capabilities on various types of aircraft, including PC-12, PC-7, F\/A-18 and helicopters<\/strong>, operating in the usual training spaces. In addition, checks were conducted on the electromagnetic compatibility with civil systems<\/strong>, like weather radar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No firing tests were carried out, but the use of a radar target simulator allowed testing the sensor's capability in the presence of targets with different speeds and radar cross-sections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Exposure to non-ionizing radiation (NIR)<\/strong> remained within the limits set by Swiss regulations: Armasuisse operated with regularity broadcast authorization<\/strong> released by theFederal Office of Communications (OFCOM)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Switzerland,<\/picture>
TRML-4D radar sensor screen \u00a9VBS-DDPS<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Filling the Gaps: The Role of the IRIS-T SLM System<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The project \u201cGBAD MR<\/strong>\u201d (Ground-Based Air Defence Medium Range) aims to replace the anti-aircraft systems currently in use \u2014 now nearing the end of their operational life \u2014 and to fill an important gap<\/strong> in the ability to counteract stand-off weapons<\/strong>, i.e. long-range launched weapon systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new system will allow to expand the coverage of the airspace to medium distance<\/strong>, going to join the long-range system Patriot<\/strong>, already supplied. Existing systems, such as the Stingers<\/strong> and medium anti-aircraft artillery, are no longer adequate to counter modern threats, such as missiles and aircraft capable of striking from high altitudes and at long range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Switzerland,<\/picture>
Ground-based medium-range air defense system (GBAD MR) \u00a9VBS-DDPS<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

International diffusion and future development<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In addition to Switzerland, the IRIS-T SLM system is already in use in Germany<\/strong> e Ukraine<\/strong>. Latvia<\/strong> formalized an order in November 2023, while Slovenia<\/strong> e Bulgaria<\/strong> have joined the program during 2024. Each system is composed of a TRML-4D radar<\/strong>, a fire control command center<\/strong> e more mobile launchers<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In parallel, Diehl has signed an agreement<\/a> of cooperation with the Danish company MDSI<\/strong> to extend missile integration IRIS-T short range<\/strong> on a wider range of combat aircraft. The missile is currently already integrated on Eurofighter<\/strong>, Gripen<\/strong>, F-16<\/strong>, Tornado<\/strong>, EF-18<\/strong>, KF-21<\/strong> e F-5E<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThanks to the partnership with MDSI, we are expanding the possibilities of using our missile system even on platforms that until now were considered to have limited compatibility\u201d,<\/em> stated Martin Walker<\/strong>, senior manager for integration programs at Diehl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Switzerland,<\/picture>
The short-range IRIS-T missile, integrable on a wide range of combat aircraft<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Sources: <\/p>\n\n\n\n