After Operation Sindoor exposed Pakistan, why is Islamabad turning to German defence?

In the aftermath of India’s assertive military response, Pakistan is reassessing its air defence capabilities.

Operation Sindoor, conducted from 7 to 10 May 2025, demonstrated the effectiveness of the Indo-Russian BrahMos cruise missile in penetrating and crippling existing Pakistani air defence infrastructure.

With India’s supersonic precision-strike capabilities now proven in operational settings, Pakistan has turned its attention to advanced Western systems — particularly Germany’s IRIS-T SLM — hoping to neutralise future threats from weapons like the BrahMos.

The BrahMos not only exposed the vulnerabilities in Pakistan’s Comprehensive Layered Integrated Air Defence (CLIAD), but also left 11 out of 13 of Pakistan’s Air Force bases compromised.

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The missile, with speeds reaching up to Mach 3 and a range between 450 to 800 km, overwhelmed Pakistan’s Chinese-supplied HQ-9B and HQ-16 missile defence systems. The accuracy and velocity of BrahMos, combined with its stealth and low radar cross-section, made it a particularly difficult target.

In this context, Islamabad is now reportedly evaluating two advanced air defence options — the German-developed IRIS-T and the Italian CAMM-ER.

However, Pakistan is showing a clear tilt towards the IRIS-T system, manufactured by Diehl Defence, which has seen operational success in Ukraine against Russian cruise missiles.

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Why does Pakistan want Germany’s IRIS-T?

The IRIS-T (InfraRed Imaging System – Tail/Thrust Vector Controlled), particularly its surface-launched medium-range version IRIS-T SLM, has garnered attention for its ability to tackle fast-moving cruise missiles and drones.

The SLM variant offers a maximum engagement range of 40 km and can target threats up to 20 km in altitude.

Reports from the Ukrainian frontlines suggest that the system successfully intercepted over 60 aerial targets — including missiles similar to India’s BrahMos — since its deployment began in October 2022.

Originally designed for Egypt, the IRIS-T SLM batteries were partly redirected to Ukraine during the ongoing conflict, where they have been used to counter Russian P-800 Oniks missiles — an earlier technological sibling of the BrahMos.

Ukrainian officials revealed that in one engagement, the IRIS-T system intercepted eight Russian cruise missiles in just 30 seconds, safeguarding critical infrastructure from damage.

According to the Indian Defence Research Wing, the Oniks, like the BrahMos, flies at low altitudes at high speeds, making it a difficult target. Though the interception rate of the Oniks remains in single digits, the IRIS-T’s relative success has reportedly impressed Pakistani military planners.

Each IRIS-T SLM unit comprises a radar, command and control centre, and a set of launchers, all mounted on compact frames for swift deployment. The entire system is modular and transportable, enhancing battlefield flexibility.

At an estimated cost of €178–200 million per battery, the system is expensive, but its proven performance and adaptability make it appealing to Islamabad, which is racing to upgrade its defences despite significant economic pressures.

Can Pakistan afford German defence?

Despite being in the midst of a fiscal crisis, Pakistan has sharply raised its defence expenditure. This year, the defence budget was increased by almost 20 per cent, even as development projects worth 1,000 billion Pakistani rupees were shelved.

In the same time frame, Islamabad secured nearly $1.8 billion in financial assistance from the International Monetary Fund and the Asian Development Bank.

Criticism has followed. New Delhi raised objections to Islamabad’s rising military spending while continuing to receive international loans, pointing out that “the loan amount would be used for terror financing rather than their intended use for development.”

One complicating factor is Diehl Defence’s existing collaboration with India. The company, along with Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, is involved in supplying the Interactive Defence and Attack System (IDAS) for India’s Rs 70,000 crore Project 75I submarine initiative.

If Germany chooses to proceed with arms sales to Pakistan, it could trigger diplomatic friction with New Delhi, which may view it as undermining India’s strategic edge.

Nevertheless, Germany and Pakistan have a history of defence and economic cooperation. The 2011 Pak-Germany Strategic Dialogue and a bilateral trade volume of €3.3 billion in 2023 form the backdrop for discreet German outreach to Islamabad through the European Security and Stability Initiative (ESSI).

Why is Islamabad leaning towards Germany?

While Italy’s CAMM-ER system, developed by MBDA, is also under consideration by Pakistan, it appears to fall short in key operational parameters when compared to the IRIS-T.

The CAMM-ER has a maximum range of 45 km and is designed to engage aircraft and cruise missiles at altitudes up to 20 km.

It uses a “fire-and-forget” guidance system with a two-way datalink for mid-course correction, making it robust against electronic jamming. According to Resonant News, Its vertical launch capability reduces thermal signatures, offering a level of survivability.

However, the CAMM-ER’s interception capabilities may be insufficient against the BrahMos’s supersonic speed and sea-skimming trajectory.

While more affordable and compatible with Nato-standard systems, the Italian system has not undergone the same level of combat testing as the IRIS-T, particularly against missiles sharing the BrahMos’ performance envelope.

Moreover, geopolitical alignment plays a role. Italy’s close ties with Nato and a stronger relationship with India could complicate any direct sale of CAMM-ER systems to Pakistan.

In contrast, Germany’s strategic balancing and economic focus are seen as more conducive to defence dealings with Islamabad. There are also reports that Pakistan might explore options to locally produce or assemble the IRIS-T system, which could alleviate stockpile concerns and potentially lower long-term costs.

Why does Pakistan think it is a necessary move?

For Pakistan, acquiring a robust, modular, and combat-proven system like the IRIS-T is not just about replacing obsolete defences — it’s about restoring deterrence in the face of India’s growing missile capabilities.

India’s deployment of the BrahMos Extended-Range Land Attack Cruise Missile (BrahMos-ER LACM) has significantly altered the regional power dynamic. With a range now extended to 450 km and beyond, and with pinpoint accuracy of under one metre, the BrahMos has emerged as a cornerstone of India’s offensive capability.

Pakistan’s military establishment sees the IRIS-T SLM as one of the few systems capable of responding to this threat. Its infrared seeker and thrust-vector control allow for agile interceptions of fast, evasive threats.

Its multi-layered variants (SLS, SLM, SLX) offer integration options with Pakistan’s Chinese and Western air defence components, giving Islamabad the flexibility it seeks.

However, acquisition comes with both strategic and financial risks. Each system would only cover a limited area, necessitating multiple deployments to safeguard key military and civilian infrastructure.

Even if deployed, the IRIS-T’s 40 km range would still require supplementary systems — such as the longer-range HQ-9B — to offer a more comprehensive shield.

And yet, in the current post-Sindoor landscape, it appears that Pakistan is prioritising its defence over its growing economic crisis.

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With inputs from agencies