Ground-launched IRIS-T fired

Click for Humongous Picture of IRIS-T SL Launch


MIM-72 Chaparral

Diehl BGT Defense has developed a ground launched derivative of its short range AAM IRIS-T.

The idea is that this system, IRIS-T SL, would be to the IRIS-T, as the Chaparral was to the Sidewinder.

One obvious difference here is that the IRIS-T has a lock after launch capability, and so does not need a trainable launcher, with the resulting savings in weight and complexity.

Additionally, the missile appears to be modified more than in the Chaparral, where the missile was basically a standard AIM-9D Sidewinder, while the IRIS-T SL uses a booster motor to get the missile out of the tube and up to speed, as well as an a shroud to protect it during the launch phase.

I'm kind of surprised that it's not a vertical launch, but that may be a trade off of coverage versus complexity of the launcher.