CHANIA, Crete — The German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Air Defence Missile Group 61 (Flugabwehrraketengruppe 61) successfully completed operational system certification firing of the Diehl Defence IRIS-T SLM ground-based air defence (GBAD) system at the NATO Missile Firing Installation (NAMFI) in Crete, Greece.
The mid-October 2026 certification campaign verified the tactical integration of the complete IRIS-T SLM battery architecture, including the HENSOLDT TRML-4D 3D AESA radar, Airbus Common Tactical Operations Center (CTOC), and multi-function vertical launcher units. Following the successful live-fire intercept, the IRIS-T SLM battery was integrated into the bi-national exercise “SPARTAN ARROW 2026,” demonstrating multi-tiered interoperability alongside German and Swedish MIM-104 Patriot batteries as well as point-defense FIM-92 Stinger / LeFlaSys (Ozelot) short-range air defense systems.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS: DIEHL DEFENCE IRIS-T SLM GBAD SYSTEM 
* Prime Contractor & Systems Integrator: Diehl Defence GmbH & Co. KG
* System Classification: Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) / Ground-Based Air Defence (GBAD) System
* Tactical Battery Architecture:
* Surveillance & Fire Control Radar: HENSOLDT TRML-4D C-band 3D AESA radar (360° coverage, >250 km detection range against air targets)
* Command & Control Suite: Airbus Common Tactical Operations Center (CTOC) / Fortion IBMS utilizing Link 16 / NATO C2 protocols
* Effector Launcher Vehicle: 8-cell vertical launcher mounted on 8×8 MAN Military Truck chassis with automated hydraulic self-erection
* Interceptor Missile Parameters (IRIS-T SLM):
* Guidance Package: GPS/INS mid-course updating via two-way RF datalink + terminal Imaging Infrared (IIR) seeker with high EW resistance
* Propulsion & Kinematics: Solid-propellant rocket motor with TVC (Thrust Vector Control) enabling instant post-launch pitch-turn
* Engagement Envelope: Effective interception range up to 60 km | Interception ceiling up to 20 km (65,600 ft)
* Tactical Interoperability & Integration:
* Integrated Architecture: Fully compatible with European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI) parameters and NATO Integrated Air and Missile Defence (NIAMD)
* Target Spectrum: Low-RCS cruise missiles, Group 3–5 uncrewed aerial systems, maneuvering fixed/rotary-wing aircraft, and standoff munitions
