A new mobile Short-Range Air Defense (SHORAD) system from German firm Diehl Defence is on display at the ILA Berlin Air Show 2026.
Designated IRIS-T SLS MK4, the system integrates radar, command-and-control, launcher, and effectors onto a single vehicle, forming what the company describes as an “all-in-one” air defense solution.
According to Diehl, this latest evolution of the IRIS-T SLS features an eightfold increase in payload capacity, aimed at improving combat effectiveness
It offers an effective range of 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) and altitude coverage of up to 6 kilometers (3.7 miles), extending its ability to engage aerial threats at relevant distances.
Designed for the protection of troops and critical infrastructure in highly mobile operational environments, the system can be rapidly redeployed as needed.
High levels of automation reduce manual workload and manpower requirements while enabling faster response times across different threat scenarios.
Core Firepower
At its core, the system uses the IRIS-T air-to-air missile as its effector and retains its baseline hardware architecture, enabling a future “fire-on-the-move” capability.
Its modular design also allows integration of additional effectors, including Diehl Defence’s CICADA eMissile interceptor.
Available imagery shows the system supports 360-degree coverage, enabling continuous detection and engagement of incoming threats from all directions.
“The IRIS-T missile is and remains the core element of ground-based air defense at Diehl Defence, even in the combat-proven SLS system,” the company stated.
“As an air defense system with future-proof capabilities, IRIS-T SLS MK4 stands for high performance in dynamic threat scenarios.”
