Germany Launches Development of Drone-Based Missile System with IRIS-T Integration

German defence companies are taking a bold step in modern aerial warfare with the launch of a new unmanned weapon system combining drones and advanced missiles. Diehl Defence and aerospace start-up POLARIS Raumflugzeuge have formed an exclusive partnership to develop the Airborne Launching and Attack System, or AirLAS.

Unveiled at the 2025 Paris Air Show, the collaboration brings together Diehl’s IRIS-T air-to-air missiles and POLARIS’s reusable unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to create a flexible, long-range strike platform. The deal was formalized by Diehl Defence CEO Helmut Rauch and POLARIS CEO Dr. Alexander Kopp.

According to both companies, AirLAS is designed to equip POLARIS’s UAV systems with proven missile technology, enabling the drones to serve as airborne launch platforms. “The integration of the IRIS-T missile into a UAV system opens up new possibilities for rapid response and extended engagement range,” they stated.

The AirLAS system aims to offer a cost-efficient and highly adaptable solution for modern battlefield scenarios. Combining a reliable, flight-proven UAV with a combat-tested missile, the setup is tailored for use across multiple domains, including land, air, and sea operations.

Initial flight trials of the integrated system are expected before the end of the year. Developers believe the AirLAS concept could play a key role in future defence strategies, including integration with the European Future Combat Air System (FCAS) and even support roles for hypersonic weapon systems.

With affordability, rapid deployment, and scalability at its core, the AirLAS programme represents a new frontier in unmanned combat capabilities. It is also seen as a significant enhancement to ground-based air defence by repurposing existing technologies in a novel, efficient framework.