Diehl Defence and Indra team up in air and missile defence

Diehl Defence and Indra Group have signed an agreement to jointly promote the development and production of air and missile defence systems. Based on its current market standing in these segments, the link-up with Indra will offer Diehl Defence additional opportunities to strengthen its industrial base, enhance technological sovereignty and contribute to European strategic autonomy.

Based on their strong track record of cooperation, both companies will initially focus on the joint development of a medium‑range ground-based air defence (GBAD) solution tailored to the operational requirements of the Spanish Armed Forces, drawing on Spain’s technological and industrial base. Later on, the collaboration of both companies has the prospect of being extended to the maritime and air domains, as well as to related disruptive technologies.

In their collaboration, Indra Group and Diehl Defence benefit mutually from the complementary nature of their technological capabilities. Diehl Defence contributes its extensive experience in GBAD systems and guided missiles, such as IRIS-T SLS for short ranges, IRIS‑T SLM for medium ranges, and IRIS-T SLX under development for extended ranges. Indra, for its part, brings its expertise in radar systems, tactical communications, and air and missile defence command and control systems.

Helmut Rauch, CEO Diehl Defence, said: “Diehl Defence takes pride in intensifying the successful partnership with Indra. Together, we will enhance the variety of GBAD systems on offer in order to ensure the sovereignty and autonomy our customers, for example the Spanish Armed Forces, are seeking.”

José Vicente de los Mozos, CEO Indra Group, declared: “We have a responsibility to forge technological and industrial partnerships in Europe to deliver increasingly advanced defence systems to allied armed forces. In addition to the strong position that Spain and Indra already hold in air and air defence, this agreement now adds the production in Spain of new systems of this type and missiles.”

The agreement is framed within a context of growing defence investment efforts across European NATO countries. Spain has launched the so‑called ‘Special Modernisation Programmes’ (PEM) for its armed forces, with an investment of €14 billion in 2025, while the EU’s ‘ReArm Europe / Readiness 2030 Plan’ will mobilise €800 billion in the coming years. As part of this plan, the European Commission has recently presented the first four ‘European Readiness Flagships’, in which air defence plays a central role.