IRIS-T
| IRIS-T | |
|---|---|
Mockup of the IRIS-T | |
| Type |
|
| Place of origin | Germany, Italy, Sweden, Greece, Norway, Spain |
| Service history | |
| In service | December 2005 |
| Used by | See operators |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Diehl Defence, Avio S.p.A., Litton Italia, Leonardo S.p.A., Saab AB, GPCC, Nammo |
| Developed into | IRIS-T SL family |
| Unit cost | €400,000 (~US$473080) for an AAM |
| No. built | > 5,000 missiles (as of December 2023) |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 87.4 kg (193 lb) |
| Length | 2.94 m (9.6 ft) |
| Diameter | 127 mm (5.0 in) |
| Wingspan | 447 mm (17.6 in) |
| Warhead | Dual-layer HE/fragmentation |
| Warhead weight | 11.4 kg (25 lb) |
Detonation mechanism | Impact and active radar proximity fuse |
| Engine | Solid-fuel rocket with thrust vectoring control |
| Propellant | HTPB |
Operational range |
|
| Flight ceiling | IRIS-T SLS: Up to 8,000 meters (26,000 feet)
IRIS-T SLM: Up to 20,000 meters (66,000 feet) IRIS-T SLX: Up to 30,000 meters (98,000 feet) IRIS-T HYDEF: Up to 50,000 meters (160,000 feet) |
| Flight altitude | Sea level to 20,000 m (66,000 ft) |
| Maximum speed | Mach 3 |
Guidance system | Imaging infrared homing. |
Steering system | 4 exhaust vanes and 4 tail wings |
Launch platform |
|
The IRIS-T (infrared imaging system tail/thrust vector-controlled) is a short range infrared homing air-to-air missile. It is also called AIM-2000. The missile also has other variants, including the surface-to-air-launched IRIS-T SLS and IRIS-T SLM and their derivatives.
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. The air-to-air variant was fielded in 2005.