IRIS-T

IRIS-T, photo Pia Ericson, FMV

IRIS-T is a new air-to-air missile to replace the current Sidewinder AIM-9L on the JAS 39.

IRIS-T, Infra-Red Imaging System - Tail/Thrust vector controlled, is optimized to be able to fight targets within very short distances from the defending airplane, and is a complement to the Amramm and Meteor missiles, which are primarily intended to combat targets at longer distances.

The IRIS-T is a European collaborative project involving six countries: Germany, Italy, Spain, Greece, Norway and Sweden, and is an example of a very successful multi-national project. The collaborative climate has always been very good.

The countries are responsive to each other's views, and the ambition to find constructive solutions to emerging problems is great. Even from a technical standpoint, the project has been very successful.