The German Navy plans to equip its F125-class frigates with a new air defense system based on the IRIS-T SLM missile, in an initiative aimed at significantly enhancing the ships’ protection against aircraft, drones, and anti-ship missiles.
According to a report by Naval News, citing information shared by the German publication Hartpunkt, the project calls for the installation of a total of 32 launch cells distributed among the vessels of the Baden-Württemberg class.
The F125 frigates are frequently criticized for their limited anti-aircraft defense capabilities. Currently, their primary protection against aerial threats is the RAM (Rolling Airframe Missile) system, which has a range of approximately 9 kilometers.
The IRIS-T SLM, on the other hand, can intercept targets at distances of up to 40 kilometers and altitudes of up to 20 kilometers, representing a significant leap in capability, according to Harald Buschek, Program Director at Diehl Defence.
Germany’s interest in the system gained momentum following recent operational experiences, including naval missions related to security in the Red Sea. The need for a more robust air defense capability for the F125 frigates led the German government to begin studies on integrating the IRIS-T SLM in 2024.
Development has already progressed to the testing phase. In 2025, Diehl Defence successfully conducted the first launch of a navalized version of the IRIS-T SLM from the frigate Baden-Württemberg during a German Navy exercise in Norway. According to the manufacturer, the system achieved all planned objectives, paving the way for its future operational deployment.
With this modernization effort, Germany aims to transform the F125 frigates into platforms better prepared to counter modern aerial threats, reducing one of the key limitations of one of the largest combat ships in its fleet.
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Photo: Diehl Defence. This content was created with the assistance of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
