Switzerland Chooses IRIS-T Air Defense System as Part of Sky Shield Initiative

The Swiss Defense Procurement Agency has chosen the German-made IRIS-T air defense missile system to enhance the country’s air defense capabilities.

This was announced on the official Swiss Army website.

Negotiations for the purchase are now in the final stages, with Switzerland set to purchase between 4 and 5 IRIS-T SLM systems.

The purchase is part of the European Sky Shield initiative, which aims to strengthen the air defense of the European Union.

The Federal Department expects the contract to purchase the systems to be signed in the third quarter of 2025, as discussions between the parties continue regarding the terms following the Swiss side’s practical familiarization with the system.

It is worth noting that between March 31 and April 11, 2025, the Swiss military got acquainted with the system and conducted tests of the TRML-4D radar, which is part of the IRIS-T air defense system battery.

The radar tests were conducted sequentially at the Homberg range and the Emmen airfield test site, where the radar station was tested in various scenarios.

PC-12, PC-7, and F/A-18 aircraft, as well as helicopters, simulated approaches to the system, allowing for the testing of target detection effectiveness.

Militarnyi previously reported that the German company Diehl Defense held a ceremony to start the construction of a new facility to expand the production of IRIS-T surface-to-air missiles.

The construction of the new facility has started in the municipality of Nonweiler, where, according to the plan, both the company’s technology center and the production site for guided missiles, including surface-to-air missiles, will be located.

The GBAD MR Project

The GBAD MR project is a procurement program aimed at modernizing the key air defense systems of the Swiss Armed Forces.

Its implementation aims to address the existing gap in capabilities to counter long-range threats, ensure effective engagement of medium-range targets using the IRIS-T system, and expand the capabilities of ground-based air defense with the Patriot system.