Sweden Signs $900M Deal for IRIS-T SLM Air Defence under European Sky Shield Initiative

Sweden has signed a $900 million (SEK 9 billion) contract to procure seven IRIS-T SLM fire units, becoming the eighth country under the European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI) to adopt the German-made air defence system.

The deal was announced during a press conference on the island of Gotland by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Defence Minister Pål Jonson.

The agreement, finalized through a German procurement authority and signed with Diehl Defence, is part of Sweden’s broader push to strengthen air defence in the Baltic region. The IRIS-T SLM systems will be used by Swedish army brigades and the Gotland-based battle group.

“This is about better defending the military forces we have,” said Prime Minister Kristersson, citing operational lessons from the war in Ukraine.

The announcement was made during a troop visit to the P18 regiment on Gotland, a key location just 300 km from Russia’s Kaliningrad region. Gotland is considered critical for countering Russian anti-access strategies in the Baltic Sea.

Delivery Timeline and Deployment

The IRIS-T SLM fire units are scheduled for delivery between mid-2028 and mid-2030. Each system includes radar, command and control elements, launchers, and support vehicles—totalling 49 military vehicles. The medium-range system is capable of intercepting aircraft, cruise missiles, and drones at ranges up to 40 km and altitudes of 20 km.

The procurement is Sweden’s first under a standardized ESSI contract, enabling faster joint acquisitions and shared logistics among the 24 member states.

The IRIS-T SLM complements Sweden’s existing Patriot PAC-2 and PAC-3 systems, delivered in 2021–2022, and aligns with ESSI’s multi-layered architecture. The initiative includes U.S.-built Patriot for medium to long range and Israel’s Arrow 3 for long-range missile threats.

Sweden Signs $305M Contract to Equip Gripen E Production

Saab and the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) have signed a SEK 2.9 billion (approximately $305 million) contract for additional equipment to support production of 60 Gripen E fighters. The deal ensures continued operation of the current Gripen C/D fleet while enabling full delivery and integration of Gripen E into the Swedish Armed Forces. The new contract supplements the original 2013 agreement, which planned to reuse parts from the older fleet.