Brazilian Air Force to acquire new IRIS-T missiles

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The December 21 announcement follows the FAB’s confirmation of the acquisition of a second batch of MBDA Meteor medium/long-range BVR (Beyond-Visual-Range) missiles.

As reported in November, Saab has delivered the first 4 operational units of the Gripen fighter-bomber to the Brazilian Air Force. The Air Force has been advancing the acquisition of diverse armament to equip the aircraft in the near future.

The IRIS-T missile, along with the MBDA Meteor, will comprise the main air-to-air armament integrating the Brazilian Air Force’s F-39 Gripen fighter-bomber.

The IRIS-T will be used for short-range targeting, while the MBDA Meteor will be used for medium and long-range BVR.

Although the number of units acquired in this batch has not been specified, the FAB stated the relevance of the acquisition for the defense of Brazilian airspace.

The IRIS-T is a short-range air-to-air missile, which emerged as a European option to the North-American AIM-9 Sidewinder missile. It was originally developed by Germany during the 1990’s, and was joined by several European countries, including Greece, Italy, Norway, Spain and Sweden.

The IRIS-T is currently in production and has been used by European air forces since 2005, with the German company Diehl Defence as its main manufacturer.

Among its main features is its approximately 30-kilometer operational range, reaching Mach 3 speeds to intercept targets. With infrared homing, it has a better resistance to countermeasures (ECM) and flares compared to the Sidewinder, as well as greater maneuverability thanks to its vector thrust rocket engine.