The design of the variants depend on the user. As a general principle, a fire unit is composed of a command vehicle equipped with a target designation radar. This command vehicle communicates with one or several launch vehicles. A fire unit can be incorporated into a common air-defence command system. is the air defence system which uses the
IRIS-T AAM with few software modifications. However, its operational range is reduced from 25 km to 12 km, as has the ceiling from 8 to 6 km. It has a maximum speed of Mach 2 and average speed of 400 m/s, and it cannot attack targets that are closer than 1 km. The IRIS-T SLS has
lock-on after launch capability which enable it to launch missiles without actually locking on any target. Once the missile receives the target's data in the form of three-dimensional coordinates, it will employ
inertial guidance mode during the initial phase of flight. After attaining the required engagement altitude, the seeker activates and begins scanning the expected target zone. If the radar is unavailable, there is a portable target designator that is equipped with an IR camera and an integrated
laser rangefinder. The crew can use it as an alternative to transmit target information to the missile. In 2018, Diehl Defence demonstrated a Bv 410-based IRIS-T SLS system integrated with a
Saab Giraffe 1X radar during the
ILA. In 2019, the
Swedish Army fielded a ground launched version of the IRIS-T SLS, designated
Luftvärnsrobotsystem 98 (lvrbs 98), to replace the
RBS 70 missile system. Four missiles are carried on Eldenhet 98 (elde 98) launcher, a special version of a
Bv 410 tracked, armoured vehicle. Compared to the one demonstrated on the ILA 2018, there was no radar on the Swedish Eldenhet 98. Instead, the Swedish Army used the
Underrättelseenhet 23 (UndE 23) radar truck as its radar unit. The system will integrate tracked IRIS-T SLS launchers from Diehl Defence GmbH with
High Mobility Launchers for
AIM-120 and
AIM-9X missiles and XENTA-M radars from
Weibel Scientific; initial delivery is planned for 2023 and will include six modified
M113 vehicles carrying IRIS-T SLS missiles, while additional launchers will be based on the
ACSV.
IRIS-T SLS Mk. III In 2022, Diehl Defence showed a new air defence system called IRIS-T SLS Mk. III at the
Eurosatory. It was a modified
Mowag Eagle 6×6 armoured vehicle integrated with IRIS-T SLS launcher,
Hensoldt Spexer 2000 3D AESA or a Xenta-M, and it can be equipped with a .50 machine gun in the
remote controlled weapon station. Its
STANAG 4569 protection was level 1, and it could be upgraded to level 3 by adding armor kit. This vehicle had integrated the missile launcher, the radar, the sensors and the C2 command system, making it able to operate independently as an air defence system.
IRIS-T SLS fire unit In February 2025, it was revealed that a Ukrainian IRIS-T SLS air defence system consisted of two Italian
Iveco 4×4 trucks that integrated with SLS missile launcher. The system is also integrated with the
TRML-4D radar, which guides the missiles to the target.
IRIS-T SLM IRIS-T SLM (Surface Launched Missile) is the air defence system which uses the
IRIS-T SL missile. As a part of the NATO
MEADS program, the
German Air Force and others are now using this missile. It has a pointed nose, unlike the regular IRIS-T, with a jettisonable drag-reducing nose cone. The missile uses a GPS-aided inertial navigation system, with radio data link for
command guidance during the initial approach. The interference-resistant IR seeker head is activated at the terminal stage. Compared to the IRIS-T, the diameter of the rocket motor was increased by 25 mm, to 152 mm. Test launches from a fire unit consisting of a
CEA CEAFAR radar, a Diehl IRIS-T SL launcher and an Oerlikon Skymaster battle management system were performed in 2014. A further fire test on the developed system of the IRIS-T SLM was completed in January 2022. An IRIS-T SLM air defence system consists of a tactical operation center, a logistic support unit, several radar units, and 3 or 4 missile trucks. The IRIS-T SLM can be integrated with a variety of electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) guidance systems and
AESA radars, such as
Hensoldt TRML-4D, Thales
Ground Master 200 MM/C, CEA
CEAFAR, and
Saab Giraffe 4A. Giraffe 4A radar and Diehl IRIS-T SLM launcher was shown at
IDEX 2019 under the name Falcon Ground Based Air Defence. Egypt ordered Diehl IRIS-T SLM launchers, Hensoldt TRML-4D radars, and fire and control stations equipped with
Airbus Defence Fortion IBMS integrated battle management software, all mounted on MAN 8×8 military trucks; the deal was approved by the German government in December 2021. Further orders includes Hensoldt
passive radars, IRIS-T SLS launchers and IRIS-T SLX long-range missiles. Passive radars can detect enemy aircraft by analysing reflections from external radio and television signals, making them effective in urban areas where active radars struggle. The
German Air Force has received its first IRIS-T SLM system in 2024 and is to receive five more by 2027. Also, mixed SLS/SLM systems are being planned. File:IRIS-T_SL_SAM.jpg|An IRIS-T SL missile File:MAN_7_t_mil_gl_IRIS-T_SL.jpg|A MAN SX44 6x6 7-ton IRIS-T SL launcher File:Iris-T,_ILA_2018,_Schoenefeld_(1X7A6891).jpg|A MAN SX45 8x8 10-ton IRIS-T SLM launcher File:MAN_10_t_mil_gl_IRIS-T_SL_ILA2018-2.jpg|A MAN SX45 8x8 10-ton IRIS-T SLM launcher rear File:IRIS-T-SLM-radar_unit_TRML-4D_front_ILA-2022.jpg|A Hensoldt TRML-4D radar File:CEA_Technologies_GBMMR_on_MAN_SX45_8x8_chassis_ILA-2016.jpg|A CEA CEAFAR (GBMMR) radar File:ILA_2018,_Schönefeld_(1X7A5463).jpg|The Thales Ground Master 200 MM/C radar File:Hensoldt_Twinvis,_ILA_2018,_Schonefeld_(1X7A6906).jpg|A Hensoldt TwInvis passive radar
Variants in development IRIS-T SLX IRIS-T SLX is an upgraded variant of IRIS-T surface-to-air missile which has the operational range of 80 km and ceiling of 30 km. It will also use a combined radar and infrared seeker. On the ILA 2024, Diehl Defence displayed a missile model of the developing IRIS-T SLX, which looked quite different to both IRIS-T AAM and IRIS-T SL. This new missile can be integrated into the IRIS-T SLM launchers, which can be loaded with a mix of SL and SLX missiles as the result. Only 50 to 60 soldiers are needed for each system. The Diehl Defence chief programme officer Harald Buschek said this variant was capable of countering
standoff weapons, and it was likely to be ready for operation within around 4 years. It also would retain the ability to engage cruise missiles and helicopters.
IRIS-T HYDEF The Hypersonic Defence (HYDEF) is a program for missile defence against hypersonic threats. The consortium of this project consists of 13 companies from seven European nations. The HYDEF project is based on the successful contract signing in July 2022, dealing with a project study of an overall endo-atmospheric interceptor concept for air defence. At that time, the HYDEF project prevailed over the competitor and could win the Europe-wide tender. Hensoldt and Airbus are also involved as national partners in the HYDEF project. On 31 October 2023, SMS (Spanish Missile Systems, a collaborative proposal of ,
GMV and
SENER AEROSPACIAL from Spain) and Diehl Defence signed the contract with
OCCAR, marking the official start of the project. It has the operational range of 100 km and ceiling of 50 km. The German procurement agency BAAINBw signed a contract with Diehl for a feasibility study to integrate the IRIS-T SLM to the (F125) in December 2024. This contract includes a risk analysis, and the production of a system demonstrator. During the Maritime Firing Exercise 2025 (MFE 2025) the navalised system demonstrator of the IRIS-T SLM ground-based air defence system was successfully tested aboard the German frigate
Baden-Württemberg. In November 2025, Lockheed Martin and Diehl signed a contract to integrate the IRIS-T SLM to the
Mk41 VLS, and to the
AEGIS combat system (CMS 330).
Integration of alternative radars In October 2025, Hanwha and Diehl signed a
memorandum of understanding to integrate the Hanwha Multi-Function Radar family of radars with the intent to explore new markets. == Operators ==