Bulgaria purchases German IRIS-T SLM air defense system.

On October 7, 2024, the German company Diehl Defence announced that Bulgaria had purchased its IRIS-T SLM ground-based air defense system, joining 20 other countries that utilize the IRIS-T family. Of these, nine countries, including Bulgaria, have chosen to employ the IRIS-T for ground-based air defense purposes.
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This contract follows the Bulgarian Parliament’s approval on August 6, 2024, ratifying the purchase of one IRIS-T SLM fire unit valued at €182 million (approximately $199 million), exclusive of VAT. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

This acquisition is part of Bulgaria’s participation in the European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI), which seeks to enhance air defense capabilities across Europe and within NATO. The procurement also includes options for Bulgaria to acquire additional IRIS-T SLM and SLX units, providing flexibility for further integration with the ESSI.

The contract was signed at the German Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology, and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) in Koblenz. Diehl Defence CEO Helmut Rauch recently met with Bulgarian President Rumen Radev, Bulgarian Defense Minister Atanas Zapryanov, and German Ambassador to Bulgaria Irene Maria Plank to discuss bilateral defense cooperation within the ESSI framework. This follows the Bulgarian Parliament’s approval on August 6, 2024, ratifying the purchase of one IRIS-T SLM fire unit valued at €182 million (approximately $199 million), exclusive of VAT.

The contract allows Bulgaria to purchase up to five additional SLM fire units and one SLX unit by 2032. Part of the acquisition cost will be funded through compensation for military equipment donations that Bulgaria made to Ukraine in 2024. Bulgaria anticipates additional compensation for further donations planned for 2025. At the time of this announcement, the Bulgarian Ministry of Defense had not responded to questions regarding funding specifics or compensation arrangements.

The contract with Diehl Defence also includes options for Bulgaria to acquire additional IRIS-T SLM and SLX units, providing flexibility for further integration with the European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI). (Picture source: Army Recognition)

Current users of the IRIS-T SLM system include Ukraine, Germany, Egypt, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Austria, and Slovenia. Initially, the German Army planned to procure eight systems, though this was later reduced to six. Like Bulgaria, the German systems will integrate with NATO-standard interfaces as part of the ESSI, complementing other air defense systems such as the MIM-104 Patriot and Arrow 3.

Furthermore, the IRIS-T SLM has been operationally deployed in Ukraine since October 2022, where it has been used to protect infrastructure from aerial attacks. According to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, the system has achieved an effectiveness rate of approximately 90%, which led to subsequent deliveries in 2023 and 2024.

The IRIS-T SLM’s development began in 2007 through a multinational initiative led by Diehl Defence, with involvement from Norway, Sweden, Greece, and Italy. Initial unguided test flights occurred in October 2009, followed by successful prototype tests starting in May 2012. By 2022, the system had achieved operational capability. In 2023, Diehl Defence established a training center in Todendorf, Schleswig-Holstein, to facilitate training for international partners on the IRIS-T air defense systems.

The system’s radar, a TRML-4D multifunction radar from Hensoldt, is equipped with an AESA antenna, allowing it to detect, acquire, and track aerial threats up to a range of 250 km and an altitude of 30 km. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

The IRIS-T SLM is a surface-launched, medium-range missile system designed to intercept various types of aerial threats, including drones, helicopters, aircraft, and cruise missiles. The system includes a radar with a 250 km detection range, three launchers with a total of 24 missiles, and a command post that operates remotely, allowing for rapid deployment with minimal personnel requirements.

The IRIS-T SLM components are modular, mounted on 20-foot ISO container frames, and designed for ease of transport by multiple means, including trucks, ships, trains, and aircraft such as the C-130 and A400M. The Tactical Operations Center (TOC) serves as the control hub, coordinating fire control and integrating with command centers. The system’s radar, a TRML-4D multifunction radar from Hensoldt, is equipped with an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) antenna, allowing it to detect, acquire, and track aerial threats up to a range of 250 km and an altitude of 30 km.

The launchers, each with eight IRIS-T SLM missiles, can be set up and made operational within ten minutes and reloaded in approximately 15 minutes. The missiles are adapted from the air-to-air version of the IRIS-T, with enhancements such as GPS, a two-way data link, and an advanced guidance system to achieve a range of up to 40 km and a maximum altitude of 20 km.