Switzerland has officially signed a contract with Diehl Defence for the purchase of five IRIS-T SLM air defense systems, including spare parts, mobile maintenance units, and a Swiss training center. The deliveries are scheduled to begin in late 2028 and continue through 2031.
What makes this procurement unusual is that it was brokered via the German Bundeswehr, which may seem odd for a neutral country. Yet the arrangement offers Switzerland cost savings and faster delivery by grouping its purchase into Germany's broader national order.
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The deal also raises a key question: is this purchase meant to replace Patriot systems that were redirected to Ukraine? While the numbers match, Defense Express notes that these are separate developments. Switzerland has been working on its own air defense upgrade since 2019, and in October 2024 joined the European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI).
The choice of IRIS-T SLM was finalized in April 2025, following a successful evaluation campaign. While the contract value remains undisclosed, the Swiss government allocated 660 million Swiss francs ($826.5 million) in its 2025 budget for air defense procurement.
By channeling the order through Germany, Switzerland benefits from economies of scale, as well as a standardized configuration close to the German variant — reducing complexity and cost. Diehl Defence now has a confirmed backlog of 43 IRIS-T SLM systems, including a recent order from Sweden.
This growing demand could soon justify an expansion of Diehl's production capacity, especially for interceptor missiles. But reaching that point will likely require even more orders from European customers.
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