IRIS-T (Infra Red Imaging
System Tail/Thrust
Vector-Controlled) is a
German-led program to develop
a short-range air-to-air
missile to replace the AIM-9
Sidewinder.In the 1980s, West
Germany was a partner with the
United Kingdom in the ASRAAM
program. But after German
reunification, Germany found
itself with large stockpiles<
more

IRIS-T (Infra Red Imaging
System Tail/Thrust
Vector-Controlled) is a
German-led program to develop
a short-range air-to-air
missile to replace the AIM-9
Sidewinder.In the 1980s, West
Germany was a partner with the
United Kingdom in the ASRAAM
program. But after German
reunification, Germany found
itself with large stockpiles
of the AA-11 Archer and
concluded that the AA-11's
capabilities had been
noticeably under-estimated. In
particular, it was found to be
both far more manoeuvrable,
and far more capable in terms
of seeker acquisition and
tracking. These conclusions
led Germany to question
certain aspects of the design
of ASRAAM, particularly the
lack of thrust vectoring to
aid manoeuvrability. Germany
and Britain could not come to
an agreement about the design
of ASRAAM, so in 1990 Germany
withdrew from the ASRAAM
project; Britain continued
alone to produce and procure
ASRAAM.

In 1995, Germany announced the
IRIS-T development program, in
collaboration with Greece,
Italy, Norway, Sweden and
Canada. Canada later dropped
out.

Workshare arrangements for
IRIS-T development are:

* Germany 46%
* Italy 19%
* Sweden 18%
* Greece 13%
* 4% split between Canada
and Norway.

In 2003 Spain joined as a
partner for procurement.
The Luftwaffe took first
delivery of the missile on the
5th of December 2005.
IDAS, a navalized version of
the missile, is also being
developed for the new Type 212
submarine of the German Navy.
IDAS is supposed to engange
air threats, small or medium
surface vessels or near land
targets.
In addition to the MEADS
program, the German airforce
plans to integrate a
land-launched version of the
missile, called IRIS-T SL /
IRIS-T SLS, into this program.

Category Howto & DIY

Tags iris-t, missile, aircraft, airplane, fighter, jet, weapon, rocket, war, boeing, 787, airbus, A380, f-16, f-18, f-15, su-27, su-37, su-47