In a significant advancement for maritime defense capabilities, German defense firm Diehl Defence has successfully tested a naval demonstrator of its IRIS-T SLM ground-based air defense system. The testing was conducted from the C-deck of a German Navy Type 125 frigate, showcasing a high hit rate and affirming the system’s operational effectiveness.
This trial was part of the Maritime Firing Exercise (MFE) 2025, marking the largest missile firing event for the German Navy in the past three decades. The exercise provided an opportunity for naval crews to operate complex weapon systems and procedures in near-realistic conditions, emphasizing the fidelity of the test environment.
Diehl Defence highlighted the system’s combat effectiveness, stating, “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.” This endorsement is particularly noteworthy as it builds on the system’s previous success in conflict scenarios.
The development of the naval demonstrator was a focused effort, completed within a short timeframe of just 10 months from conceptualization. Diehl Defence was commissioned by the German Navy for integration work in December, and the initiative was structured into four phases, aligning with the existing land-based launchers of the system.
The successful trial paves the way for the serial introduction of the IRIS-T SLM system for naval operations. Designed to enhance a vessel’s short-to-medium-range self-defense capabilities, the system is positioned to complement existing defenses that currently depend on the RAM family of guided missiles.
With specifications that include a range of 40 kilometers (25 miles) and an altitude ceiling of 20 kilometers (approximately 12.4 miles), the IRIS-T SLM is anticipated to represent a substantial upgrade in shipborne air-defense performance, significantly reinforcing the operational readiness of the German Navy.
