Diehl Defence net profit rose to 492.3 million euro in 2025, up from 343.5 million euro in 2024, driven by IRIS-T air defense demand. Defense revenue surged 28 percent to 2.33 billion euro, accounting for 43 percent of total group revenue of 5.4 billion euro. The IRIS-T SLM variant achieved near 100 percent hit rate in Ukraine, validating its tactical value against modern threats. Diehl announced development of IRIS-T SLX with 80 km range and 30 km altitude coverage, plus hypersonic missile defense systems. Group revenue is projected to reach 6 billion euro in 2026, confirming Europe’s defense industry boom. IRIS-T now serves as a strategic alternative to Patriot systems, with Bundeswehr ordering six SLM units and planning six more.