SAAF Awards IRIS-T Contract to Diehl

The South African Air Force (SAAF) has awarded a contract to Diehl BGT Defence for purging of missiles and the rental of gas filling equipment for its IRIS-T short-range air-to-air missile (SRAAM). The contract is to maintain the missile that was acquired as an interim weapon for the SAAB

By cms admin

The South African Air Force (SAAF) has awarded a contract to Diehl BGT Defence for purging of missiles and the rental of gas filling equipment for its IRIS-T short-range air-to-air missile (SRAAM).

The contract is to maintain the missile that was acquired as an interim weapon for the SAAB Gripen advanced light fighter aircraft in 2008.

The infrared-guided IRIS-T is a short-range, highly manoeuvrable, all-aspect air-to-air missile, which allows engaging any target from point-blank to the maximum range.

SAAF will have a fleet of 26 missiles by next year, before the first Denel Dynamics A-Darter fifth-generation SRAAM is delivered to the SAAF in 2013, according to DefenceWeb.