Update: Thailand awards IRIS-T support contract to Diehl Defence

The IRIS-T is a short-range, all‐aspect infrared-homing missile that can travel at speeds in excess of Mach 3 and has a maximum range of 25 km. (Diehl Defence)

The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has signed a support contract with Diehl Defence to enhance the operational capacity and use of IRIS-T short-range air-to-air missiles for its combat platforms.

The contract aims to enhance the “RTAF's capability for the operation of IRIS-T across their entire fleet”, Diehl Defence said in a statement on 16 October. “It covers integration support, technical logistic support, and live-firing support.”

According to the company, the contract was signed in Germany at the beginning of October. The company added that the contract will “widen the usage of the IRIS-T to further platforms”.

A Diehl Defence spokesperson told Janes on 23 October that the contract became “effective immediately and will remain effective until late 2027”.

The RTAF has already integrated the IRIS-T with its primary combat aircraft, the Lockheed Martin F-16A/B Fighting Falcon, the Saab JAS 39 Gripen, and the Northrop F-5 Tiger II following the type's upgrade to the F-5TH Super Tigris standard.

The company spokesperson said Diehl Defence could not elaborate on details regarding the enhancement of RTAF's capabilities or which additional RTAF platforms will be armed with the missile.

Alongside its announcement of the contract, however, Diehl Defence released an image of an IRIS-T with a Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) T‐50 Golden Eagle in the background. The RTAF operates eight T-50THs, a sub-variant of the T-50T, designed for training, search-and-rescue, escort, and light-attack roles.