The JRV-01 drone system and services provided by RV Connex will enhance the realism of IRIS-T live firings and improve customer training for evolving security requirements. This collaboration enables Diehl Defence to conduct cost-efficient live firings without the need for complex test infrastructure and offers full support for IRIS-T customers.
Initial IRIS-T test firings using the JRV-01 drones are already scheduled. Both companies plan to expand their cooperation and broaden the scope of services in the future.
The partnership initially focuses on the Asian market, with potential for global expansion. Diehl Defence will benefit from highly realistic threat simulations provided by the JRV-01, ensuring high standards of reliability and performance in its testing protocols.
Helmut Rauch, CEO of Diehl Defence, stated: “I am proud to expand our presence in Asia in partnership with RV Connex of Thailand. We are looking back at 15 years of successful operations in the country, and I am convinced that there is more success for us in Asia to come.”
Diehl Defence has maintained a presence in East and Southeast Asia for many years, supplying IRIS-T missiles to the Royal Thai Air Force since 2013. The company is also involved in the integration of IRIS-T on Korea Aerospace Industries’ TA-50/FA-50 and KF-21 aircraft, and signed a support contract with the RTAF in October 2024.
The IRIS-T is a fifth-generation short-range air-to-air missile, integrated into platforms such as the Eurofighter/Typhoon, Gripen, F-16, EF-18, F-5E, and Tornado. In 2024, Diehl Defence signed its first IRIS-T procurement contract with the Republic of Korea following ongoing integration into the KF-21 fighter aircraft.
