At the ILA Berlin Air Show 2026, German defence company Diehl Defence, in partnership with Polaris Raumflugzeuge, unveiled the Cobra 600 also known as AIRLAS Cobra 600--a novel jet-powered unmanned aerial vehicle designed as an airborne launch platform for the highly effective IRIS-T air-to-air missile. This system represents a creative evolution in air defence, turning a reusable drone into a long-range missile taxi that dramatically extends the operational reach of ground-based surface-to-air missile batteries.
The Cobra 600 is a large, delta-wing/flying-wing-style UAV measuring approximately 6 meters (600 cm) in length. It features endplate vertical stabilisers at the wingtips and is powered by two JetCat P1000-PRO micro turbojet engines (with provisions for four). This propulsion setup enables the drone to carry a single IRIS-T missile hundreds of miles from its launch point, with a reported combat range of 250–400 kilometres (about 155–250 miles) when loaded. After launching the missile, the platform can return to base for reuse or, if needed, be expended as a one-way attack asset.
The core concept is straightforward yet powerful, traditional ground-launched IRIS-T systems (such as the IRIS-T SLM or SLS) have relatively limited ranges, roughly 25 miles for the SLM and even shorter for the SLS variant. By air-launching the same proven missile from the Cobra 600, operators can position the interceptor much closer to incoming threats whether drones, cruise missiles, helicopters, or aircraft before firing. This effectively multiplies the engagement envelope and allows air defence networks to respond to threats that would otherwise be out of reach.
The Cobra 600 integrates with existing ground-based IRIS-T systems, receiving targeting data and operating as part of a networked air defence architecture. Its design echoes recent Russian adaptations, such as modified Shahed/Geran drones fitted with short-range air-to-air missiles, but benefits from Western engineering standards, jet propulsion for higher speeds and range, and the advanced IRIS-T missile’s all-aspect infrared seeker and high manoeuvrability.
The IRIS-T, originally developed as a short-range air-to-air missile by a German-led consortium (Germany, Italy, Sweden, Greece, Norway, Spain), is renowned for its agility, thrust-vector control, and resistance to countermeasures. In its surface-launched variants, it has proven highly effective in Ukraine against Russian drones and missiles. The Cobra 600 uses the air-to-air version, leveraging its established performance in a new airborne delivery role.
This development comes amid growing global demand for layered, flexible air defense solutions capable of countering drone swarms and low-flying threats. By combining a relatively low-cost, reusable jet drone platform with a combat-proven missile, the Cobra 600 offers a cost-effective way to extend defensive coverage without requiring entirely new ground infrastructure. While still in the concept and demonstration phase, the Cobra 600 highlights Germany’s ongoing innovation in unmanned systems and air defence integration.