Airbus Defence and Space has connected German and Swedish air defense systems under a common command-and-control network during NATO's Spartan Arrow 26 live-fire exercise in Crete.
The German Air Force's IRIS-T SLM medium-range air defense system and the Swedish Air Force's Patriot system were connected to Germany's Surface to Air Missile Operations Centre (SAMOC), which coordinates different air defense weapons through a common network.
Airbus also integrated the German Army's Light Air Defence System (LeFlaSys), designed for short-range protection against threats including drones. The combination created a network covering short, medium and longer-range engagements.
The exercise was conducted at the NATO Missile Firing Installation (NAMFI) in Crete and tested the network against drones and cruise missile threats under operational conditions.
Recent news
October 14, 2026
Airbus said data on bandwidth, response times and resistance to jamming collected during the exercise will be used in the development of NATO's networked command-and-control capabilities.
German IRIS-T SLM fires live missiles
The exercise also included the first live firing of the IRIS-T SLM by an entirely German crew.
The system is operated by Flugabwehrraketengruppe 61, the German Air Force's air defense missile group based at Todendorf. The Bundeswehr had identified the Crete exercise as a key step toward achieving NATO certification for the unit and its new weapon system.
IRIS-T SLM is already operational with Ukraine, but Germany only received its first system for the Bundeswehr in 2024 as it rebuilds its ground-based air defense capabilities.
Follow Air Data News: WhatsApp | Instagram | LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook
During Spartan Arrow 26, SAMOC coordinated the German system during its live missile firing. Airbus described completion of the test as a key prerequisite for NATO certification.
The German Army's LeFlaSys was connected to the same command structure, allowing information and engagement decisions involving different layers of the air defense network to be coordinated through SAMOC.
Swedish Patriot deployment to Poland
Sweden reached a separate milestone during the exercise by conducting its first live Patriot firing since introducing the US-built air defense system.
More than 100 personnel from the Swedish Air Defence Regiment (Lv 6) participated in Spartan Arrow 26, Sweden's first participation in the German-led exercise.
The Swedish Armed Forces said the training covered the complete process from deploying and positioning the equipment to detecting targets and firing live missiles. Airbus said the Patriot firing also validated the Swedish system within NATO and demonstrated interoperability with German forces.
The exercise has an immediate operational purpose for Sweden. Personnel participating in Spartan Arrow are preparing for a deployment to Poland scheduled to begin in December 2026.
Sweden plans to deploy a Patriot unit to protect the NATO logistics hub at Rzeszów, a major transit point for military assistance destined for Ukraine. Lieutenant Colonel Michael Mattsson, who commanded the Swedish contingent in Crete, is also expected to command the deployment in Poland.
Around 60 aerial targets are planned to be used during the live-fire exercise in Crete, according to the Swedish Armed Forces, with Airbus supplying most of them.
The tests bring together air defense equipment from different manufacturers and countries under a shared command network as NATO expands its ground-based air and missile defense capabilities in Europe.
