Editing IRIS-T (section)

==History==

=== Background ===
In August 1980, the USA, the UK, Germany and France signed a [[Memorandum of understanding]] which aimed to develop two types of AAMs to replace existing ones. The USA developed the Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) to replace the [[AIM-7 Sparrow]], while the Europe team developed the Advanced Short-Range Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM) to replace the [[AIM-9 Sidewinder]]. This work was dusted off for the UK–German effort,<ref>{{Cite book |first1=Chris |last1=Gibson |first2=Tony |last2=Buttler |title=British Secret Projects: Hypersonics, Ramjets and Missiles |url=https://archive.org/details/britishsecretpro0000gibs |publisher=Midland Publishing |page=50 |date=2007 |isbn=9781857802580}}</ref> with the Germans providing a new seeker, and the UK providing most of the remaining components.

In 1987, after years of silence on the program, the US proposed a requirement that the weapon must use Sidewinder rails rather than the universal aircraft rail adaptor named the "missile support unit" that had been developed. This delayed the project by one year as the British, German and Norwegian proposals were redesigned. Fearing erosion of its industrial base, the US proposed it would choose the latest version of its existing Sidewinder design with increased manoeuvrability and IRCCM unless the European partners increased the US industrial workshare,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.thinkdefence.co.uk/2022/11/advanced-short-range-air-to-air-missile-asraam/ | title=Advanced Short Range Air to Air Missile (ASRAAM) - Think Defence | date=5 November 2022 }}</ref> designated [[AIM-9X Sidewinder#AIM-9X|AIM-9X]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Tirpak|first=John|title=The Evolution of the Force|url=http://www.airforcemag.com/MagazineArchive/Pages/1996/July%201996/0796force.aspx|access-date=11 June 2014}}</ref> However, the Sidewinder upgrade proposal failed to interest NATO buyers.

After [[German reunification]] in 1990, Germany found itself with large stockpiles of the Soviet [[Vympel R-73]] air-to-air missiles (NATO reporting name: ''AA-11 Archer'') carried by the [[MiG-29 Fulcrum]] and concluded that its capabilities had been noticeably underestimated.<ref>{{cite web|last=Menon|first=KB|title=Evolution of the Air-To-Air Missiles: Options for the IAF|date=17 July 2012 |url=http://www.indiandefencereview.com/news/evolution-of-the-air-to-air-missiles-options-for-the-iaf/|access-date=11 June 2014}}</ref> It was one of the earliest 4th generation WVRAAM and more capable in dogfight than the former 3rd generation ones.<ref name="airpower" /><ref>{{Cite magazine |first=Tim |last=Robinson |date=July 2002 |title=The Market for 4th Generation Dogfight Missiles |magazine=Military Technology |volume=26 |issue=7 |page=51 |quote=The revolution in WVR technology came from Russia, back when it was the Soviet Union, with a missile that was effectively a generation ahead of Western designs. The Vympel R-73 was a revelation when it first appeared in 1986 ... What also was critical with R-73 was its integration with a helmet-mounted sight, allowing impressive off-boresight shots. |issn=0722-3226}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |first=Lon O. |last=Nordeen |date=January 2004 |title=A Half-Century of Jet-Fighter Combat |magazine=Journal of Electronic Defense |volume=27 |issue=1 |page=46 |quote=Western military planners have had widespread access to Russian technology, which revealed the uncomfortable lead the R-73 had over the American AIM-9L. With the helmet-mounted sight, the R-73 could be cued by head movement to hit a target within 180 degrees of the centerline. |issn=0192-429X}}</ref> In 1990, Germany withdrew from the [[ASRAAM]] project, while the UK resolved to find another seeker and develop ASRAAM according to the original range requirement.<ref>{{cite book |title=Arms and the State: Patterns of Military Production and Trade |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] |date=25 August 1995 |page=253 |isbn=0521558662 |no-pp=true}}</ref> In 1992, the missile development programme ultimately separated with the UK the ASRAAM, France the [[MBDA MICA]], US the AIM-9X and Germany electing to restart development on what became the IRIS-T.

===Development===
In 1995, Germany announced the start of the IRIS-T development, in collaboration with Greece, Italy, Norway, Sweden and Canada. In 1997, Germany had invested more than 500 million [[Deutsche Mark|DM]] in this project and held a 46% share. In addition, Italy accounted for 20%, Sweden 18%, Greece 8%, Canada 4% and Norway 3%.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1997/1997%20-%203230.html |periodical=Flightglobal |title=Germany clears IRIS-T missile development |date=2 December 1997 |access-date=23 July 2014 |archive-date=2016-08-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807154412/https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1997/1997%20-%203230.html |url-status=dead}}</ref> Canada later dropped out, while Spain joined as a procurement partner in 2003.<ref>{{cite web |title=IRIS-T – the world's highest-performance, short-range, air-to-air guided missile |url=http://www.diehl.com/en/nc/diehl-group/press/iris-t-the-worlds-highest-performance-short-range-air-to-air-guided-missile/190.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306174050/http://www.diehl.com/en/nc/diehl-group/press/iris-t-the-worlds-highest-performance-short-range-air-to-air-guided-missile/190.html |archive-date=2016-03-06 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[German Air Force]] took first delivery of the missile in December 2005.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Germany+tees-off+with+Iris.-a0143304030 |title=Germany tees-off with Iris. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170910172546/https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Germany+tees-off+with+Iris.-a0143304030 |archive-date=2017-09-10 |access-date=11 June 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Nammo|NAMMO Raufoss]] supplies the rocket engine with its [[Thrust vectoring|TVC (thrust vector control)]] for both the IRIS-T air-to-air missile and the SL variants.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Solid Rocket Motors |url=https://www.nammo.com/product/our-products/propulsion/solid-rocket-motors/ |access-date=2024-04-30 |website=Nammo |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=IRIS-T SL Surface-to-Air Guided Missile |url=https://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/iris-t-sl-surface-to-air-guided-missile/ |access-date=2024-04-30 |website=Airforce Technology |language=en-US}}</ref>