Editing IRIS-T (section)

{{Short description|Medium-range infrared homing missile}}
{{Redirect|Rb-98|the isotope of rubidium (Rb-98 or <sup>98</sup>Rb)|Rubidium-98}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox weapon
| is_missile         = yes
| name               = IRIS-T
| image              = IRIS-T expo front.JPG
| image_size         = 300
| caption            = Mockup of the IRIS-T
| origin             = Germany, Italy, Sweden, Greece, Norway, Spain
| type               = *[[Air-to-air missile#Short-range air-to-air missile|Short-range air-to-air missile]]
*[[Surface-to-air missile]]
| used_by            = [[#Operators|See ''operators'']]
| wars               = [[Russo-Ukrainian War]]
| manufacturer       = [[Diehl Defence]], [[Avio|Avio S.p.A.]], [[Litton Industries|Litton Italia]], [[Leonardo S.p.A.]], [[Saab AB]], [[Pyrkal|GPCC]], [[Nammo]]<ref name="starstreak">{{cite web |url=http://typhoon.starstreak.net/common/AA/irist.html |title=BGT/SAAB/Alenia IRIS-T |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090122022323/https://typhoon.starstreak.net/common/AA/irist.html |archive-date=2009-01-22}}</ref>
| unit_cost          = €140 million (complete IRIS-T SLM battery, FY 2022)<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.dw.com/en/what-is-germanys-iris-t-air-defense-system/a-63414859 |title=Explainer: Germany's IRIS-T air defense system |date=2022-10-12|access-date=2022-10-21 |website=DW |language=en}}</ref><br>€400,000<ref>{{cite news |author=Felix Busjaeger |date=22 October 2022 |title=Flugabwehrsystem Iris-T: Das kann das System aus Deutschland |url=https://www.kreiszeitung.de/politik/abwehrsystem-deutschland-ukraine-russland-flugabwehrsystem-luftabwehrsystem-iris-t-sl-slm-reichweite-kosten-preis-91584931.html |access-date=14 June 2024 |website=kreiszeitung.de |language=de}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Simon Cleven |date=10 January 2024 |title=Was die Iris-T-Lenkraketen so besonders macht |url=https://www.t-online.de/nachrichten/deutschland/militaer-verteidigung/id_100318268/bundesregierung-liefert-iris-t-an-saudi-arabien-was-kann-das-waffensystem-.html |access-date=14 June 2024 |website=t-online.de |language=de}}</ref>&nbsp;(~US${{To USD|400000|FRA}}) for an AAM<br>€564,608<ref>{{cite news |author=Frank Hofmann |date=12 May 2023 |url=https://www.focus.de/politik/ausland/jede-in-deutschland-gebaute-iris-t-lenkrakete-fuer-ukraine-kostet-564-608-euro_id_193518227.html |title=Ukraine: Deutscher Nachschub für die Offensive |work=[[Focus (German magazine)|Focus]] |access-date=14 June 2024}}</ref>&nbsp;(~US${{To USD round|564608|FRA}}) for an IRIS-T SL missile
| propellant         = [[HTPB]]{{sfn|Andersson|2012|p=26}}
| production_date    = 
| number             = > 5,000 missiles (as of December 2023) <ref name="diehl framework contract">{{cite web |url=https://www.diehl.com/defence/en/press-and-media/news/framework-contract-for-iris-t-guided-missiles-signed/ |title=FRAMEWORK CONTRACT FOR IRIS-T GUIDED MISSILES SIGNED |date=22 December 2023 |publisher=Diehl.com |access-date=4 January 2024 }}</ref>
| service            = December 2005
| engine             = [[Solid-propellant rocket|Solid-fuel rocket]]
| engine_power       = 
| weight             = {{convert|87.4|kg|abbr=on}}
| length             = {{convert|2.94|m|ft|abbr=on}}<ref name=diehl />
| height             = 
| diameter           = AAM: {{convert|127|mm|in|abbr=on}}<br>[[#IRIS-T SL|IRIS-T SL]]: {{convert|152|mm|in|abbr=on}}
| wingspan           = {{convert|447|mm|in|abbr=on}}
| speed              = AAM: Mach 3<br>SLS: 680 m/s{{sfn|Andersson|2012|p=37}}
| vehicle_range      = {{ubl|AAM: {{convert|25|km|mi||abbr=on}}<ref name="diehl">{{cite web |url=http://www.diehl.com/en/diehl-defence/press-media/subjects-in-the-focus/iris-t-the-short-distance-missile-of-the-latest-generation.html |title=Diehl Defence: IRIS-T, the short-distance missile of the latest generation |publisher=Diehl.com |access-date=11 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140330051726/http://www.diehl.com/en/diehl-defence/press-media/subjects-in-the-focus/iris-t-the-short-distance-missile-of-the-latest-generation.html |archive-date=30 March 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>|SLS: {{convert|12|km|mi||abbr=on}}<ref name="2022sls">{{cite web |url=https://defenceredefined.com.cy/diehl-defense-the-new-mobile-air-defence-system-iris-t-sls-mk-iii-unveiled-at-eurosatory-2022/ |title=The new mobile Air Defence system IRIS-T SLS Mk III unveiled at EUROSATORY 2022 |date=16 July 2022 |access-date=26 April 2024}}</ref>|SLM: {{convert|40|km|mi||abbr=on}}<ref name="irist_egypts_choice" />|SLX: {{convert|80|km|mi||abbr=on}}<ref name="hensoldt-diehl-gbad" />|HYDEF: {{convert|100|km|mi||abbr=on}}<ref name="White2024Addressing" />}}
| ceiling            = {{ubl|SLS: {{convert|8|km|mi||abbr=on}}<ref name="2022sls" />|SLM: {{convert|20|km|mi||abbr=on}}<ref name="irist_egypts_choice" />|SLX: {{convert|30|km|mi||abbr=on}}<ref name="hensoldt-diehl-gbad" />|HYDEF: {{convert|50|km|mi||abbr=on}}<ref name="White2024Addressing" />}}
| altitude           = Sea level to {{convert|20000|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| filling            = Dual-layer HE/fragmentation
| filling_weight     = {{convert|11.4|kg|abbr=on}}<ref name="airpower">{{cite web |url=http://www.airpower.at/flugzeuge/eurofighter/bew-iris-t.htm |title=IRIS-T |periodical=Airpower.at |access-date=13 July 2014 |archive-date=2016-03-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314080226/http://www.airpower.at/flugzeuge/eurofighter/bew-iris-t.htm |url-status=live}}</ref>
| guidance           = [[Infrared homing]]<br />SLX: combined radar and infrared guidance<ref name="SLXseeker">{{cite news |title=Germany's Diehl Defence Unveils Advanced IRIS-T SLX Air Defense Missile System |url=https://armyrecognition.com/news/army-news/2024/germany-s-diehl-defence-unveils-advanced-iris-t-slx-air-defense-missile-system |website=armyrecognition.com |access-date=31 May 2024}}</ref>
| steering           = 4 [[Thrust vectoring|exhaust vanes]] and 4 tail wings<ref name="starstreak" />
| detonation         = Impact and active radar [[proximity fuse]]
| launch_platform    = Air-to-air: <br>[[McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet]], [[F-4 Phantom II| McDonnell Douglas F-4 AUP]], [[Northrop F-5|Northrop F-5M Super Tigris]], [[General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon]], [[Saab JAS 39 Gripen]], [[Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Master|Leonardo M-346 Master]], [[Panavia Tornado]], [[Eurofighter Typhoon]], [[KAI T-50 Golden Eagle]], [[KAI KF-21 Boramae]]<br>Ground-to-air: <br>IRIS-T SLS, IRIS-T SLM, IRIS-T SLX, [[NASAMS#NASAMS 3|NASAMS-3]]
}}

The '''IRIS-T (infrared imaging system tail/thrust vector-controlled)''' is a family of short range [[infrared homing]] [[air-to-air missile|air-to-air]] and short to medium range [[surface-to-air missile|surface-to-air]] missiles. It is also called '''AIM-2000'''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Luft-Luft-Rakete IRIS-T AIM-2000 |url=https://www.bundeswehr.de/de/ausruestung-technik-bundeswehr/ausruestung-bewaffnung/iris-t-aim-2000 |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=www.bundeswehr.de |language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=AIM-2000 (IRIS-T) Infrared Imaging Seeker - Tail |url=https://www.haf.gr/en/equipment/aim-2000-iris-t-infrared-imaging-seeker-tail/ |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=Hellenic Air Force |language=el}}</ref>

The missile was developed in the late 1990s–early 2000s by a German-led program to produce a short to medium range infrared homing air-to-air missile to replace the [[AIM-9 Sidewinder]] in use by some [[NATO]] member countries at the time. A goal of the program was for any aircraft capable of firing the Sidewinder to also be capable of launching the IRIS-T.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.diehl.com/fileadmin/diehl-defence/user_upload/flyer/2009_Flyer_IRIS-T_EFA_0509.pdf |title=IRIS-T European Short Range Air-to-Air Missile |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121119044426/http://www.diehl.com/fileadmin/diehl-defence/user_upload/flyer/2009_Flyer_IRIS-T_EFA_0509.pdf |archive-date=2012-11-19 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The air-to-air variant was fielded in 2005.

Surface-to-air [[missile defense|defence system]]s variants came later, with the short-range '''IRIS-T SLS''' fielded in 2015, and the medium-range '''IRIS-T SLM''' fielded in 2022. One IRIS-T SLM battery, as supplied by Germany to Ukraine, consists of three truck-mounted launchers, carrying eight missiles each (with a range of {{convert|40|km|disp=or}}), and a separate command vehicle that can be positioned up to {{convert|20|km}} away. The command vehicle integrates multiple radar sources, and is able to launch and track all 24 missiles simultaneously. The IRIS-T SLM can counter cruise missiles, including low-flying, stealthy missiles such as the [[Kalibr]].<ref name=Economist20221011>{{cite web |url=https://www.economist.com/europe/2022/10/11/how-the-west-is-helping-ukraine-beat-russias-missiles|title=How the West is helping Ukraine beat Russia's missiles|last1= |magazine=[[The Economist]]|language=en|url-status=live|date=11 October 2022|access-date=9 November 2022|archivedate=11 October 2022|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20221011210620/https://www.economist.com/europe/2022/10/11/how-the-west-is-helping-ukraine-beat-russias-missiles}}</ref>