Slovenia has signed the deal as part of the European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI). The initiative aims for members to use common air defence systems to achieve a Europe-wide integrated air defence. 19 European countries have expressed interest in joining the project.
IRIS-T SLM is also one of the air defence systems used by Ukraine in the Russo-Ukrainian War following the supply of missiles by Germany alongside Gepard 35 mm anti-aircraft guns.
IRIS-T SLM is a follow-up to the IRIS-T SLS low-altitude air defence system that uses IRIS-T air-to-air missiles. IRIS-T SLM uses a modified IRIS-T air-to-air missile with a larger rocket motor and a jettisoning protective cap for the imaging infrared seeker.
The manufacturer states that the IRIS-T SLM to be capable of reaching a range of 40 km and an altitude of 20 km. Due to the higher speed at which the missile generates heat, the seeker has to be protected by a jettisoning cap till the final approach.
Recently, Diehl has revealed IRIS-T SLX long-range air defence missile and IRIS-T HYDEF upper-layer air defence missile designs to expand its coverage further.
