IRIS-T SL is Diehl Defence's medium-range surface-launched missile for the IRIS-T SLM ground-based air-defense layer. It is separate from the short-range SLS effector, which uses the unchanged IRIS-T air-to-air missile; the SL round gives SLM its longer 40-60 km engagement envelope and 20 km altitude layer against aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, drones, and guided weapons. Germany has supplied IRIS-T SLM missiles and IRIS-T SLM/SLS air-defense equipment to Ukraine during the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War.
Germany has delivered IRIS-T SLM missiles and IRIS-T SLM/SLS air-defense systems to Ukraine; HENSOLDT also reported that Diehl supplied the launchers and missiles for an IRIS-T SLM combat unit delivered to Ukraine in October 2022.
Role detailsPublic sources use IRIS-T SL for the medium-range surface-launched missile behind IRIS-T SLM. The short-range SLS system is adjacent family context but uses the standard IRIS-T air-to-air missile rather than the larger SL round.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
 | Air-to-air baseline and SLS effector | Diehl describes the IRIS-T family as spanning air-to-air missiles and surface-to-air variants; its older brochure distinguishes IRIS-T as the short-range ground-launched missile and IRIS-T SL as the medium-range missile. Sources: Diehl Defence 2017 Brochure, Contracts for IRIS-T guided missiles signed with BAAINBw |
 | Ground-based launch system | IRIS-T SLM is the medium-range fire-unit architecture that fires IRIS-T SL missiles with radar, launcher, and tactical-operations-center components. Sources: IRIS-T SLM Product Tab, Denmark Procures Additional IRIS-T SLM Fire Units |
 | Short-range adjacent system | SLS is listed because it is part of the same GBAD family, but Diehl says SLS uses the standard IRIS-T air-to-air missile unchanged rather than the medium-range SL missile. Sources: IRIS-T SLS Product Tab, Contracts for IRIS-T guided missiles signed with BAAINBw |
| IRIS-T SLX | Extended-range development | Diehl and HENSOLDT describe SLX as an extended-performance development for the same ground-based air-defense family, with longer range and altitude than the SLM layer. Sources: IRIS-T SLX Product Tab, Diehl Defence, HENSOLDT and Airbus Delivered IRIS-T SLM to Ukraine |
The SL missile is publicly documented through the IRIS-T SLM fire unit rather than as a standalone shoulder-fired or aircraft-carried round.
| Launcher | Launcher type | Launch evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Medium-range ground-based launcher system | Diehl's SLM product material identifies the IRIS-T SLM fire unit as a launcher, radar, and CTOC package, while the 2017 brochure says the SLM system is based on the IRIS-T SL guided missile. Sources: IRIS-T SLM Product Tab, Diehl Defence 2017 Brochure |
IRIS-T SL is best read as the medium-range surface-launched missile inside the SLM layer, not as a synonym for every IRIS-T ground-based system. Diehl's older brochure separates ground-based air-defense missiles into IRIS-T for short range and IRIS-T SL for medium range; later Diehl product material keeps the same practical boundary by describing SLS as the unchanged IRIS-T air-to-air missile and SLM as the medium-range system.
IRIS-T SL gives the SLM fire unit its medium-range engagement layer against aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, drones, and guided weapons.
SLS stays linked as family context, but its effector is the standard IRIS-T air-to-air missile with ground-launch software and launcher support.
SLX is the public extended-range development lane for the same family rather than the baseline SL missile documented on this page.
Diehl's 2017 brochure presented IRIS-T SLM as a medium-range air-defense system based on the new IRIS-T SL surface-launched guided missile.
Sources: Diehl Defence 2017 Brochure
HENSOLDT reported that Diehl, HENSOLDT, and Airbus delivered an IRIS-T SLM combat unit to Ukraine, with Diehl supplying launchers and missiles.
Sources: Diehl Defence, HENSOLDT and Airbus Delivered IRIS-T SLM to Ukraine
The German government's archived Ukraine support list named delivered IRIS-T SLM missiles and IRIS-T SLS missiles, plus additional IRIS-T SLM/SLS missiles in preparation or execution.
Sources: Military Support for Ukraine
Diehl said BAAINBw contracts covered IRIS-T-family guided missiles for both air-to-air and ground-based air-defense applications, including IRIS-T SLS and IRIS-T SLM.
Sources: Contracts for IRIS-T guided missiles signed with BAAINBw
