Airbus connects German and Swedish air defence forces into unified NATO shield

Chania, Crete, 14 October 2026 – Airbus Defence and Space successfully integrated key components of bi-national air defence during NATO exercise SPARTAN ARROW 26 in Crete. For the first time, both the German Air Force IRIS-T SLM air defence system and the Swedish Air Force Patriot air defence system were connected to the German SAMOC (Surface to Air Missile Operations Centre) command post, the central software hub that acts as the "brain" for coordinating air defence weapons. In close cooperation with the armed forces of Germany and Sweden, Airbus demonstrated seamless networking to defend against drones and cruise missiles under realistic conditions and in real time.

Through this successful integration into SAMOC, IRIS-T SLM was coordinated during its first live firing with real missiles by an all-German crew - a key prerequisite for official NATO certification. Simultaneously, the Swedish Air Force completed its first independent PATRIOT live firing via the networked system, marking the certification and validation of the Swedish PATRIOT systems by NATO and demonstrating bi-national interoperability with Germany. In addition, Airbus networked the German Army’s Light Air Defence System (LeFlaSys for short-range drone protection) to deliver a connected, multi-layered defence chain covering long, medium, and short distances.

"Effective air defence today is the result of a seamlessly integrated overall capability, not the performance of individual products" said Andreas Reinecke, Head of Defence Digital & Cyber at Airbus Defence and Space. "From initial target acquisition to a precise hit, our Command & Control solution in Crete showed how smoothly the interaction works. The SAMOC command post connects individual weapon systems into a reliable, digital protective shield for Europe."

The performance data obtained under real operational conditions regarding bandwidth, response time, and jam resistance will feed directly into the further development of NATO's networked command and control capabilities.

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