en.Wedoany.com Reported - Diehl Defense has unveiled the new IRIS-T SLS Mk.4 mobile air defense system at the Berlin International Air Show, which is capable of launching missiles while on the move.
The SLS Mk.4 system integrates command and control, radar sensors, and missile launchers onto a single wheeled vehicle, achieving a fully integrated air defense capability. Harold Buschek, Chief Project Officer at Diehl Defense, told Aviation Week on the eve of the air show that the development goal was to create a system that is "more mobile, more flexible, and capable of acting as a gap filler" to protect convoys or large troop concentrations.
The vehicle typically carries eight quad-pack missiles ready for launch, which can be fired vertically or at an angle. The IRIS-T SLS has an effective range of 12 kilometers (8 miles) and an altitude coverage of up to 6 kilometers. The system incorporates a high level of automation designed to reduce operator requirements. Additionally, the company plans to enable the system to fire while on the move, though not at high speeds. Unlike earlier IRIS-T SLS launchers, the Mk.4 stores missiles in launch canisters to better protect them from environmental factors. Previous systems, including the Swedish Mk.1 using Hagglunds BsV10 tracked vehicles and the Norwegian Nomad system with covered launch rails, exposed missiles on the launch rails.
At the air show, the system was displayed on a Mercedes-Benz Zetros 6x6 vehicle, equipped with a Saab Giraffe radar mounted on a retractable mast. Diehl stated that additional effectors, such as the company's Cicada anti-drone effector or weapon station, can also be integrated.
The development of the Mk.4 system draws on operational experience from the IRIS-T SLS and SLM in Ukraine, where the medium-range IRIS-T SLM has demonstrated high effectiveness against Russian cruise missiles. Buschek noted that Russia is attempting to develop countermeasures against the missile, but a hotline with the Ukrainian side allows the company to stay ahead of the threat.
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