German Polaris flies Cobra 600 jet-powered air-defence drone prototype
German aerospace startup Polaris Raumflugzeuge announced that its Cobra 600 prototype has completed its first flight. The jet-powered uncrewed aircraft is designed to carry and launch a Diehl Defense IRIS-T air-to-air missile. Polaris unveiled the concept at ILA Berlin earlier this year and has now demonstrated flight ahead of weapons integration.
Why it matters: A working jet drone that launches IRIS-T moves loitering air defence from PowerPoint to flight test—Polaris is now ahead of most European interceptor-drone programs on propulsion alone.