As announced on Thursday, January 30, 2025, the German Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw – Bundesamt für Ausrüstung, Informationstechnik und Nutzung der Bundeswehr) signed a contract at the end of December 2024 with the German company Diehl Defence for the development of the modernized AIM-2000 IRIS-T Block II air-to-air missile for the air forces of Germany, Sweden, Spain, and Italy.
Image: Diehl Defence
The contract covers the development of a new missile variant and the launch of its serial production. The work will be overseen by the IRIS-T Project Management Office (PMO) at BAAINBw. In addition to Germany, which serves as the lead nation, Sweden, Spain, and Italy have also joined the development program. BAAINBw signed the contract on behalf of this consortium. The IRIS-T Block II missile contract marks an important milestone for the future of this weapon system. No details have been disclosed regarding the specific upgrades that will be included in the Block II version.
The currently operated AIM-2000 IRIS-T Block I is the air-launched variant of the IRIS-T/TCV (Infra-Red Imaging System Tail/Thrust Vector-Controlled) surface-to-air missile, a new batch of which—1,280 units—was ordered by Germany on December 20, 2023, for use in IRIS-T SLM ground-based air defense systems.
The IRIS-T/TCV is capable of engaging aerial targets using both Lock-On Before Launch (LOBL) and Lock-On After Launch (LOAL) modes. It is equipped with both a proximity fuze and an impact fuze. The missile was developed by a consortium led by Diehl Defence, in cooperation with Sweden, Spain, Italy, Greece, Norway, and Austria.
In its air-launched version, the missile is used by the air forces of 13 countries. Since 2005, more than 5,000 missiles have been delivered and integrated with Eurofighter Typhoon, F-16, JAS 39 Gripen, Tornado, EF-18, F-5E, and IAR-99 combat aircraft. Future plans include integration with the KF-21 Boramae and FA-50 Fighting Eagle (with the KF-21 already having undergone flight tests with the missile).
The missile has also been deployed in ground-based air defense systems, including the IRIS-T SLS (with a range of 12 km), the IRIS-T SLM (with a range of 40 km), and the developing IRIS-T SLX, which is planned to have a range of 80 km. As a result, the missile is undergoing performance modifications. Additionally, a naval variant has been developed for submarines, designated as IDAS (Interactive Defence and Attack System for Submarines). The missile has been used in combat during the Russia-Ukraine war, as part of the IRIS-T SLM and SLS air defense systems.