Operation Sindoor, conducted by India from May 7 to 10, 2025, marked a turning point in South Asia’s missile warfare landscape. At the heart of the strikes was the BrahMos cruise missile, a joint Indo-Russian creation that delivered supersonic precision strikes deep into Pakistani territory. The operation compromised 11 of Pakistan’s 13 air force bases, revealing glaring weaknesses in Pakistan’s layered air defense systems, particularly the Chinese-supplied HQ-9B and HQ-16 platforms.
The BrahMos, capable of flying at Mach 3 speeds with a range stretching from 450 to 800 kilometers, overwhelmed Pakistan’s current missile shield due to its stealth profile, low radar visibility, and high-speed sea-skimming approach. The missile’s devastating accuracy has now pushed Islamabad to explore Western alternatives in air defense — with Germany’s IRIS-T SLM system emerging as the front-runner.
The IRIS-T, developed by Diehl Defence, has demonstrated battlefield credibility, particularly in Ukraine, where it reportedly intercepted over 60 high-speed aerial threats similar in profile to the BrahMos and Russia’s P-800 Oniks. In one engagement, eight cruise missiles were intercepted within 30 seconds, highlighting the system’s effectiveness in real-time combat.
Pakistan is evaluating the IRIS-T SLM (Surface Launched Medium-range) due to its modularity, mobility, and relatively advanced interception capabilities — reaching altitudes up to 20 km and a maximum range of 40 km. Each unit, composed of a radar, command center, and launchers, is compact enough for fast battlefield deployment.
Despite facing an economic crisis, Pakistan remains committed to acquiring these systems, each IRIS-T battery priced between $190 million and $215 million. The nation increased its defense budget by nearly 20%, while suspending development projects exceeding $3.5 billion. This move has drawn criticism, notably from India, which alleges that Pakistan is diverting international aid—such as the recent $1.8 billion packages from the IMF and ADB—towards military expenditure.
Germany’s potential sale of the IRIS-T to Pakistan could complicate ties with New Delhi. Diehl Defence is currently working with India on Project 75I, a $8.4 billion submarine initiative, and any defense deal with Islamabad may provoke diplomatic backlash from India.
Pakistan is also considering Italy’s CAMM-ER system, developed by MBDA, as a secondary option. While it offers a slightly longer range (45 km) and strong electronic counter-countermeasures, it hasn’t been proven in combat against missiles with the BrahMos’ flight characteristics. The Italian system is also more closely aligned with NATO interests and has stronger defense ties with India, making a direct sale to Pakistan politically sensitive.
Germany, by contrast, has adopted a more neutral position, influenced by its historical strategic ties with Pakistan and bilateral trade worth $3.6 billion in 2023. Sources suggest that Islamabad is considering domestic production or assembly of the IRIS-T system to reduce expenses and maintain consistent availability.
For Pakistan’s military, the need to restore deterrence is urgent. India’s deployment of the extended-range BrahMos missile — capable of striking targets over 450 km away with pinpoint accuracy of less than 1 meter — has significantly altered the strategic military dynamics in the region. Pakistan believes the IRIS-T SLM is among the few defense systems capable of countering such threats due to its agility, infrared tracking, and rapid response.
Still, strategic analysts caution that each IRIS-T unit protects only a limited radius, meaning multiple batteries would be needed to secure key locations. This layered setup would likely still depend on longer-range systems like the HQ-9B to offer full-spectrum protection.
Yet, in the wake of Operation Sindoor, Pakistan’s defense priorities appear to outweigh its economic constraints. The push for IRIS-T highlights a broader shift — from relying solely on Chinese systems to seeking proven Western alternatives, even at considerable cost.
