Luftwaffe conducts first live fire of IRIS-T SLM, connects system to Swedish Patriots

The Luftwaffe conducted its first live firing of its IRIS-T SLM during Exercise ‘Spartan Arrow' on Crete, the BMVg has announced. (Bundeswehr/Francis Hildemann)

Germany's Luftwaffe conducted its first live firing of its IRIS-T SLM (Surface Launched Medium Range) air defence system during Exercise ‘Spartan Arrow' at the NATO Missile Firing Installation (NAMFI) on Crete, the German Ministry of Defence (BMVg) announced on its website 14 October 2026. During the exercise, IRIS-T SLM and a Swedish Army Air Defence Regiment Patriot air defence system were connected to the German SAMOC (Surface to Air Missile Operations Centre) command post, Airbus announced in a press release on 14 October.

The company said that through its integration into SAMOC, IRIS-T SLM was coordinated during the live firing by an all-German crew, a prerequisite for official NATO certification. Simultaneously, the Swedish Air Force (SwAF) completed its first independent Patriot live firing via the networked system, marking NATO's certification and validation of the Swedish systems and demonstrating binational interoperability with Germany, according to Airbus.

The Swedish Armed Forces said on their website on 14 October that it was their first live-fire exercise with Patriot. SwAF commander Major General Jonas Wikman said, “Today, together with our allies, we have tested and demonstrated a full operational capability, from deploying and positioning our assets to conducting live-fire engagements. This marks an important milestone for Swedish air defence and serves as a concrete example of how we are strengthening our collective capability within NATO.”

Swedish Air Defence Regiment commander Colonel Sofia Westermark added, “By exercising with allies, we verify our interoperability and ability to operate in an integrated manner within NATO. Swedish air defence units are ready to take an active role in the defence of NATO.”