As part of the program to bolster the ground air defense of the Swedish Army Brigades, Stockholm’s Defence will proceed to acquire additional IRIS-T SLS short-range missile systems produced by Diehl Defence.
The goal of Swedish Defense is to establish four air defense brigade platoons at two Regiments in Northern and Southern Sweden.
Based on the approved planning in 2024, Stockholm’s Army is in the process of completing the organization of three mechanized brigades, an infantry brigade, and a combat tactical group to strengthen the defense in the northern and southern regions of the country, including Gotland Island.
Features of the IRIS-T SL Missile
The surface-to-air guided missile IRIS-T SL (Surface Launched) is an updated version of the air-to-air IRIS-T missile. This version, requested by the Bundeswehr, was developed for tactical air defense and was qualified for service use in 2017.
Compared to the base version, the IRIS-T SL is equipped with an enhanced rocket engine to attain a larger operational radius. The data link in connection with a GPS-based inertial navigation system allows control of the missile from a command center. In the terminal approach, the missile heads directly against the target, activating its seeker.
The IRIS-T SL missile can be launched from a multifunction container used for storage, transportation, and firing.
IRIS-T (Infra Red Imaging System Tail-Thrust Vector Controlled) is a short-range air-to-air missile that employs an advanced target detection and tracking system using an infrared seeker.
The dimensions of the IRIS-T overlap those of the AIM-9L/M with the same diameter (127 mm) and weight below 90 kg.
The ground-launchable version is equipped with an improved engine, control system, and data link, in the two variants SLS (short range) and SLM (medium range).
The GBAD EldE 98 Air Defense System
The Swedish Army in June 2020 qualified the GBAD (EldE 98 or RBS 98) air defense system, including the IRIS-T-SLS launcher.
The RBS 98 system adopts the armored articulated platform BvS 410, a version of the BvS10 MkIIB, the rear module of which has been adapted for the transport and launch of four IRIS-T SLS missiles.
The EldE 98 system (Eldenhet 98) is equipped with optronic discovery sensors and Giraffe 4A radar, command and control systems, communication systems, and, of course, firing units.
Two different launch modes can be selected: Lock-On-Before-Launch (LOBL) or Lock-On-After-Launch (LOAL). In the first mode, the radar tracks the target and the missile locks onto it with the IR sensor before firing. In the second mode, the missile is launched and locks onto the target only after leaving the carrier.
Source Swedish Government
Photo credit @ BAE Systems Hägglunds-Diehl Defence
