Sweden signed a SEK 9 billion contract with Diehl Defence on 23 June to acquire seven IRIS-T SLM systems under the European Sky Shield Initiative programme.
The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) has inked a SEK 9 billion deal with Diehl Defence to buy seven IRIS-T SLM (Surface Launched Medium range) air defence systems. This would improve Sweden's capabilities under the European Sky Shield Initiative.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Defence Minister Pål Jonson held a press conference on the island of Gotland on June 23, 2025, about buying the systems. The system's mission is to protect the region from anti-access threats, and the island's critical location—only 300 km from Russia's Kaliningrad—explains why.
The agreement, signed via a German procurement authority with Diehl Defence, is valued at approximately SEK 9 billion ($900 million).
The IRIS-T SLM systems will be deployed across five brigade air defence companies and the Gotland-based battlegroup. Each unit includes multifunction radar, command and control systems, two missile launchers, and support vehicles—totalling 49 military vehicles. Deliveries are scheduled between mid-2028 and 2030.
This acquisition marks Sweden’s first multinational effort to establish a layered air and missile defence architecture across Europe. It also fills a capability gap between its short range systems (e.g., IRIS T SLS and RBS 70) and long range batteries such as Patriot. The IRIS T SLM has already seen operational use in Ukraine, reinforcing confidence in its performance. Sweden joins other European states including Germany, Latvia, Estonia and Bulgaria in adopting the system.
Author: Özgür Ekşi
