Thai-based RV Connex will provide target drones to test Diehl Defence’s IRIS-T missile

Diehl Defence signed a contract with Thailand-based  RV Connex  for the first delivery of target drones and services for live firing tests with its IRIS-T air-to-air-missile.

The IRIS-T air-to-air-missile has been chosen by South Korea’s upcoming KF-21 fighter jet and Diehl Defence is eyeing other Asian countries that operate fighter jets on which the IRIS-T is compatible.

RV Connex offers modern target representation systems such as the JRV-01 target drone system which will be used for enhancing the realism of IRIS-T live firing tests and for preparing the costumer’s training state to meet evolving security demands.

Together with RV Connex, Diehl Defence can now offer cost-efficient complete solutions for live firings without the need of complex test infrastructure and will be able to provide full support for live firings for IRIS-T customers. First test firings of IRIS-T on JRV-01 drones are already firmly planned, Diehl Defense said in a statement.

The partnership between Diehl Defence and RV Connex initially addresses the Asian market, but has the potential to be expanded to other markets worldwide.

IRIS-T is a 5th-generation short-range air-to-air missile, fully integrated into Eurofighter/Typhoon, Gripen, F-16, EF-18, F-5E and Tornado. Currently, the integration of the IRIS-T missile into the Korea Aerospace Industries, Ltd. (KAI) KF-21 fighter aircraft is ongoing. Following this integration, the Republic of Korea signed the first contract with Diehl Defence in 2024 for the procurement of IRIS-T air-to-air missiles.

Helmut Rauch, Diehl Defence CEO, said: “I am proud to expand our presence in Asia in partnership with RV Connex of Thailand. We are looking back at 15 years of successful operations in the country, and I am convinced that there is more success for us in Asia to come.”