The Swedish Army is fielding a ground-launched version of the IRIS-T, designated RBS 98, to replace the RBS 70 missile system. Four missiles are carried on a special version of a BV 410 tracked armored vehicle. The target to be fought in this case is one of FMV’s unmanned target robots. Apart from a small software adjustment, this is the same missile that has been a missile for years on the fighter aircraft Jas 39 Gripen. Sweden also has brought the Saab Dynamics RBS-23 Bofors Advanced Missile System Evaluation (BAMSE) out of storage for deployment to Gotland in 2019.
The Norwegian Army has decided to acquire a “Mobile Ground Based Air Defence System” in a direct acquisition with Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace. The deliveries are planned for 2018 to 2021 and the system will reuse NASAMS command and control and its network solutions, to create a “highly mobile, short-range air defence system”. The project includes six modified M113 vehicles carrying IRIS-T-missiles. A version with a Lockheed Martin command and control station and SAAB Giraffe 4A AESA radar was shown at IDEX 2019 under the name Falcon.
The IRIS-T (Infra Red Imaging System Tail/Thrust Vector-Controlled) is a German-led program to develop a short-range infrared homing air-to-air missile to replace the AIM-9 Sidewinder found in some NATO member countries. In 1995, Germany announced the IRIS-T development program, in collaboration with Greece, Italy, Norway, Sweden and Canada. Workshare arrangements for IRIS-T development are: Germany 46%, Italy 19%, Sweden 18%, Greece 13% and 4% split between Canada and Norway.
Any aircraft capable of firing the Sidewinder is also capable of launching the IRIS-T. In comparison to the AIM-9L Sidewinder, the IRIS-T has higher ECM-resistance and flare suppression. Improvements in target discrimination not only allows for 5 to 8 times longer head-on firing range than the AIM-9L. In addition, the IRIS-T has the unique ability ,a surface launched variant of the IRIS-T the IRIS-T SL actually has even further enhanced capabilities capable of destroying aircraft.
