German arms maker Diehl to increase production of IRIS-T air defense system

Europe, News September 6, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

Germany’s leading defense manufacturer Diehl Defense has announced its plans to significantly increase the production of the IRIS-T air defense systems. The ramp-up in production comes amid the increasing demand for weapons in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine war.

Diehl’s Chief Program Officer Harald Buschek has announced that his company plans to build at least eight new systems by the end of 2025 and will produce three to four systems each year following that. Buschek was talking to the media reporters at an air base in Todendorf in northern Germany.

He also added that along with the air defense systems, the missile production for the IRIS-T system would also be tripled by next year, and it would increase one-fold each following year. At this rate, the company is expected to produce 400 to 500 missiles each year from 2024.

Demand for German-made weapons particularly the IRIS-T air defense systems increased dramatically following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, as Kyiv and many other European countries started to upgrade and modernize their arsenals.

Earlier this year, some reports suggested that Estonia and Latvia are eyeing to purchase the German-made IRIS-T air defense systems. The two countries are currently negotiating with the German arms manufacturer and expect initial deliveries in 2024 and full operational capability by 2025.

Germany IRIS-T missile — *^{Mockup of IRIS-T missile at the ILA expo in Berlin in 2006 in front of a Eurofighter jet. (Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons)}*

Germany has also supplied two IRIS-T units to Ukraine, where they are mainly used to guard Kyiv against Russian missile and drone attacks. Buschek claims that Ukraine had shot down more than 110 targets, most of these being cruise missiles such as the Kalibr, using the IRIS-T air defense system. He said that the IRIS-T has an almost 100% success rate in Ukraine.

Earlier this week, Norway announced that it would send converted IRIS-T air-to-air missiles to Ukraine. According to the Ministry of Defense spokesperson, the missiles were being used by the Royal Norwegian Air Force on F-16 combat jets.

IRIS-T air defense system

With a range of some 40 kilometers and 360-degree aerial attack detection capabilities, the IRIS-T air defense system was first introduced in 2014. According to Diehl, the system is most effective as part of a “layered air defense,” in combination, for example, with the U.S.-made Patriot PAC-3 missile defense system, which has a higher altitude air defense system.

As a medium-range air defense system, the IRIS-T has its weaknesses against more powerful arms. The air defense system is powerless against Russia’s celebrated Kinzhal hypersonic missiles as this threat requires a more powerful antidote, such as the U.S.-made Patriot system.

Before Russia invaded Ukraine, only a few Western nations had purchased the system, reflecting a common trend after the Cold War to scale down air defenses as the main threat from Russia was deemed to have gone. However, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the demand for air defense systems has seen a sharp increase.