Special Report: Air-defence manufacturers try to evolve with the times

IRIS-T SLM (left) and SLX missile models displayed at 1:1 scale at the Paris Air Show 2025. (Janes/Tom Barton)

Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) from across Europe and the United States have been showcasing their latest efforts to optimise effectiveness against emerging threats while lowering operating costs, particularly the cost-per-kill ratio.

Many of these threats continue to evolve in fighting in the Middle East and in Ukraine and Russia, with the deployment of swarms of armed unmanned aircraft systems (UASs) and loitering munitions, often alongside cruise and ballistic missiles.

IRIS-T

Diehl Defence's vice-president for strategic programmes, ground-based air defence (GBAD), Arne Nolte, noted the capital expenditure concerns of customers across the contemporary operating environment.

Comprising a variant of the company's IRIS-T air-to-air missile, Diehl's Surface Launched Medium Range (SLM) missile is in operation with the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) to defend critical infrastructure against Russian air threats. Several SLM Fire Units are currently in the country, alongside additional Diehl Surface Launched Short Range (SLS) systems that are integrated with the SLM Fire Units.

“These [SLS/SLM interceptors] cannot be produced for half the amount of money with the requirements and capabilities demanded, just because the technology is so advanced and so expensive we would not be able to bring it down. But we could develop and provide different solutions under different requirements,” he suggested. “Then, we would really look into lowering the price, but not within the IRIS-T family.”