The deal to buy the 16-battery IRIS-T ground-based air defense system from Egypt is now certain, as the German government has approved the purchase of the 16-battery air defense system from Egypt. And this is the latest arms deal approved by German Chancellor Angela Merkel before she retires. In the next two years, ie by the end of 2023, or by 2024, Egypt will receive the delivery of the IRIS-T air defense system they have ordered.
Egypt will buy two versions of the IRIS-T ground-based air defense system. Egypt will buy a total of 10 IRIS-T SLX long-range air defense systems and 8 IRIS-T SLS short-to-medium-range air defense systems under the agreement. And these two versions of air defense system have 8 air defense missiles in each launcher tube in each battery. It should be noted that the IRIS-T, originally made in Germany, was initially developed as an air-to-air missile, which is now being used in warplanes as the most reliable short-range air-to-air missile in the entire Western world, including the NATO alliance. Due to its excellent performance, Germany took the initiative in 2007 to develop a ground-based version of the IRIS-T air-to-air missile defense system, the first successful test of this ground-based version in 2011. The IRIS-T SLX long-range air defense system purchased from Egypt has a range of 60 km and is capable of destroying ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, warplanes, drones, and helicopters at altitudes of 30 km above the ground.
link
2nd version was bought from Egypt i.e. IRIS-T SLS short to medium range air defense system has a maximum range of 40 km. And it is capable of destroying enemy warplanes, helicopters, drones, cruise missiles, precision-guided bombs, rockets, mortars at an altitude of 20 km above the ground. Both versions use a state-of-the-art AESA radar capable of 360-degree area coverage. After the 5th generation A-Darter, this 4th generation IRIS-T air defense missile is now called the most advanced air defense missile. Because its hunter is as advanced as it is, this missile is extremely perfect, that is, very high accuracy which has given it effectiveness on the battlefield. The addition of 16 high-quality air defense missiles to Egypt's fleet will undoubtedly make Egypt's air defense system stronger than ever.

