The focus of Diehl Defense's trade fair appearance at the Singapore Airshow 2024 is the IRIS-T missile. There is currently a lot of interest in use in ground-based air defense. Diehl wants to show models of ground-based air defense systems of short (IRIS-T SLS) and medium range (IRIS-T SLM), which cover altitudes of up to 20 km and ranges of up to 40 km.
Not only within Europe, but also outside Europe, ground-based air defense systems have been in considerable demand over the past two years due to the tense global security situation with escalating conflicts, writes Diehl. Since 2022, Diehl Defense has delivered fire units from the IRIS-T SLM system to several customers around the world, which confirm a regular hit rate of almost 100 percent. IRIS-T SLM, as one of the most modern systems in this market segment, is therefore tried and tested. Diehl Defense's GBAD systems are based on the company's expertise in guided missiles, particularly the short-range air-to-air guided missile IRIS-T.
Air defense systems based on IRIS-T play a special role in the European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI), which the federal government launched at the end of 2022 and which a total of 21 European nations have joined with the recent accession of Greece and Slovenia.
At the Singapore Airshow, Diehl Defense will also be exhibiting the IRIS-T guided missile, which is integrated into many Western fighter aircraft and is used in Asia by the Thai Air Force on the Gripen, F-16 and F-5 fighter aircraft. Diehl Defense says it is currently working with aircraft manufacturer Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) to advance the integration of IRIS-T into the KF-21 and FA/T-50 platforms as part of the joint development program. A major milestone was reached in 2023 with the successful live firing of an IRIS-T from a flying KF-21 (ESuTreported).
According to Diehl, the KF-21 platform will be delivered to the Korean Air Force, with Indonesia being another partner in the industrial program. The IRIS-T missile is the perfect complement to the KF-21 as it represents the ideal solution for Air Force combat aircraft in Southeast Asia and the rest of the world.
Editorial staff / gwh
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