Germany’s COBRA drone completes first flight, designed to carry IRIS-T missile

The COBRA unmanned aircraft, developed by Bremen-based space startup POLARIS Raumflugzeuge in cooperation with Diehl Defence, has completed its maiden flight over more than 20 kilometres, according to German media reports. The test reportedly took place over the Baltic Sea and marks a major development in the companies’ effort to create an unmanned carrier capable of extending the reach of air-to-air and ground-based air-defence systems.

POLARIS said on LinkedIn that additional test flights of the COBRA prototype are planned in the coming months.

COBRA designed as unmanned missile carrier

The COBRA concept involves mounting an IRIS-T air-to-air guided missile on the upper section of the unmanned aircraft and launching it from the carrier.


According to a Diehl Defence press release, the system forms part of the companies’ Airborne Launching and Attack System, or AirLAS, project. The aim is to combine POLARIS’ unmanned carrier technology with effectors developed by Diehl Defence, creating a system intended to expand the operational capabilities of armed forces.

Diehl identified extended range and a substantially increased effective engagement range as key advantages of the AirLAS approach.

The platform is being envisioned as a complement to manned fighter aircraft and ground-based air-defence systems. One or more COBRA aircraft could potentially operate ahead of fighter formations entering contested airspace or act as range extenders for ground-based IRIS-T systems.

One possible use would involve allowing air-defence units to engage fighter-bombers before they can release glide bombs.

Cost-focused design with reusable carrier

Cost efficiency is a central part of the concept. COBRA is designed to carry a single missile, allowing the aircraft to use a relatively simple configuration.

The engagement is expected to rely primarily on the missile’s own sensors, which can reduce the amount of sensing equipment needed on the carrier aircraft.

The companies also envision the carrier as reusable. Diehl described the combination of a flight-proven reusable platform with the combat-proven IRIS-T as a cost-effective solution capable of supporting multi-domain operations.

The company said the system is intended to address current ground-based air-defence challenges and could potentially be integrated into the Future Combat Air System as well as maritime operations.

First flight conducted without IRIS-T payload

POLARIS describes COBRA as a lightweight unmanned aerial vehicle with a take-off mass of more than 600 kilograms.

Images from the test show that the maiden flight was carried out without a dummy IRIS-T missile mounted on the fuselage. Future trials are expected to involve a payload comparable in size and weight to the missile.

The companies intend to progressively validate the aircraft and its systems through additional flight tests.

POLARIS adapts space technology for defence

POLARIS Raumflugzeuge is primarily a space technology company focused on developing hypersonic spacecraft that it says could transform access to space.

The company also develops smaller defence-oriented systems based on technologies and configurations derived from its spacecraft work. COBRA represents one such application, combining POLARIS’ carrier technology with Diehl Defence’s missile systems.

Diehl said AirLAS could also serve as a basis for future applications, including potential use in long-range hypersonic systems.

COBRA development faced delays

POLARIS and Diehl Defence signed an exclusive cooperation agreement at the Paris Air Show last year covering the integration of IRIS-T missiles with POLARIS unmanned aircraft.

The companies had initially said that the first flight tests would take place during 2025. The schedule was later pushed back, with the maiden flight planned for spring this year.

Further delays followed before the prototype finally completed its first test flight over more than 20 kilometres.

With further trials planned, POLARIS and Diehl Defence are now expected to continue developing the AirLAS concept and assess the capabilities of the COBRA carrier with increasingly representative payloads.