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.
Source: Airbus Defence and Space
