German defense firm Diehl Defence has tested a naval demonstrator of its IRIS-T SLM ground-based air defense system.
The system was launched from the C-deck of a German Navy Type 125 frigate, demonstrating a high hit rate, according to the company.
The trial took place on the high seas during Maritime Firing Exercise (MFE) 2025, the German Navy’s largest missile firing event in three decades.
It allowed crews to operate complex weapon systems and procedures under near-realistic conditions, highlighting the test’s fidelity.
“The IRIS-T SLM system, which has already demonstrated to be combat-proven in Ukraine, showcased its well-known qualities also on the high seas and met all the test and trial targets set for the MFE 2025,” Diehl Defence stated in a press release.
10-Month Effort
Developed in collaboration with the German Navy, the demonstrator was completed and live-tested within 10 months of its conceptualization.
The German Navy commissioned Diehl Defence in December to carry out the integration.
The effort was planned to occur in four stages, alongside the system’s existing land-based launchers.
Serial Introduction
The first trial of a naval IRIS-T family missile system by Diehl Defence has cleared the path for the serial introduction of the system for naval use.
The IRIS-T SLM is intended to strengthen a vessel’s short-to-medium-range self-defense capabilities, which reportedly still rely on the RAM family of guided missiles.
With a range of 40 kilometres (25 miles) and an altitude ceiling of 20 kilometres (12.4 miles), the SLM is expected to deliver a notable improvement in shipborne air-defense performance.
