Autumn offensive of WB GROUP: WARMATE 2 and new TOPAZ

WB GROUP is based in Ozarow and specializes in communication, command, and control systems. The company is the biggest domestic manufacturer of unmanned platforms of various classes and connected infrastructure. Besides supplying the Polish Army, WB GROUP successfully delivered their products to armed forces of countries such as USA, Sweden, Hungary, and others.

On the 20th of November 2017, WB GROUP signed a contract with state-controller Polish Development Fund (Polski Fundusz Rozwoju – PFR). The agreement assumed that the PFR will become a new shareholder of the Ozarow-based WB GROUP. PFR acquired 2,4 million shares from the new emission. The shares were for the WB Electronics, the dominant part of the WB GROUP. The majority stake remains with the WB founders: Piotr Wojciechowski and Adam Bartosiewicz.

Thanks to the WB GROUP solution, the entities gathered in the Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (Polish Armaments Group – PGZ) and working on the domestic idea on the battlefield control system and the new generation of unmanned platforms, can increase their pace of work. There is also a chance that private entities, together with PGZ, will be able to participate in key armament programs. This would free the PGZ from the need to acquire key technologies from foreign suppliers.

WARMATE is a loitering munitions system developed since 2015. It’s based on a composite micro UAV  which can be armed with the mission-dependant payload for a variety of tasks. The type of warheads includes training, HE, fragmentation, thermobaric, anti-armor, etc. Warheads were developed by the Military Institute of Armament Technology (Wojskowy Instytut Techniczny Uzbrojenia – WITU) and are manufactured by the BZE Belma works according to the license agreement signed in 2017 at MSPO.

A contract for delivery of loitering munitions sets was signed in WB GROUP HQ in Ozarow Mazowiecki on the 20th of November 2017. The parties involved were represented by Lt. Miroslaw Krupa from the MOD, JWN commanding officer and WB GROUP president Piotr Wojciechowski. The contract is for a purchase of 1000 UAV’s and is valued at EUR 23,3 million (PLN 100 million). The agreement includes training package and training equipment. Polish Army ordered 100 sets of micro-class UAV’s. Each set contains 10 of the WARMATE devices. New armament will be used by Special Forces, Territorial Defence Forces and Land Forces.

In April 2018, 9 soldiers were certified as WARMATE operators. Polish Armed Forces ordered 100 sets of first-gen loitering munition platforms / Photo: Territorial Defence Force Command

Besides the Polish Army, WB GROUP supplied their products to countries such as USA, Ukraine, Slovakia, Sweden, Hungary, and Malaysia

The first generation of the loitering munitions produced by WB GROUP was already introduced into service. On 25th and 26th of April 2018, 9 soldiers of the Polish Army became certified WARMATE operators. Five of the operators are members of the Territorial Defence Force (Wojska Obrony Terytorialnej – WOT). Certification was awarded after 2-day course conducted by WB Electronics personnel. The certification process included guiding WARMATE platforms armed with combat warheads on training targets.

New weapon system will increase the potential of the Territorial Defence Brigades (Brygady Obrony Terytorialnej – BOT). It will be integrated with other systems currently used by the Polish Army. WOT capabilities concerning WARMATE systems will be introduced in 4 stages, concurring with the development of the new branch of Armed Forces. This means that the first units to receive the loitering munitions are the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd BOT, based on the east flank. Polish Armed Forces are among the first of NATO armies to introduce this type of armament.

WARMATE 2 is a second iteration of the original concept. It was developed to increase the attack force and range of the system. The new version is equipped with a new generation of the warheads. WARMATE 2 is 2,5 m long and has a wingspan of 2,5 m. Maximum take-off weight is 30 kg. Loitering munition speed varies between 50 and 150 km/h and the operational ceiling is 200-500 m. Maximum flight time is 120 minutes. WARMATE 2 can carry up to 5 kg payload. An automatic launcher is required for the takeoff and the flight is controlled by a command and control unit mounted in a vehicle.

WARMATE 2 can be equipped with training warheads, anti-armor warheads (effective against RHA armor of 400 mm or less) and fragmentation warheads (3 kg of explosive, 100 m blast radius).

New WARMATE 2 is significantly expanded when compared to the previous variant and requires integration with vehicles for operation and service. According to the manufacturer’s information, most modern combat vehicles can be used for this role. All components were designed to be mobile. Thanks to this, the whole platform can be easily transported. The launch and guidance are effected by a single vehicle. Each UAV is stored and transported in a specially designed case which enables the battery charging process to be conducted without removing the UAV from the transport case.

The ground component consists of a guidance and control system with a rugged touch-screen, which allows for flight control and observation of data acquired by the UAV systems, a 2-way digital transmitting device and a Ground Data Terminal (GDT). The last item is used for securing the transfer of the geographical coordinates from the ground station to the UAV. These solutions are to result in uninterrupted communication with a range of up to 20 km.

WARMATE 2 has more capabilities and enlarged warhead when compared to it’s predecessor. A specialized vehicle is required for system’s operation

WARMATE 2 is based on a 2,5 m long UAV, It has 2,5 m wingspan and flight duration of 120 minutes

WARMATE 2 loitering munition is equipped with the next generation of warheads and can carry up to almost 5 kg of explosives

During this year’s MSPO, WB GROUP presented the newest generation of their TOPAZ battlefield control system. It was developed based on experiences of Polish Army in Iraq and Afghanistan missions, which allowed for the precise definition of current and real requirements typical for a modern battlefield.

Initially, TOPAZ was developed as an automatic fire control system for artillery. It evolved into an application capable of holistic management of all means and methods of combat used on a modern battlefield. It joins elements such as reconnaissance, command (C4I), strike methods, fire control, and logistical support.

TOPAZ was expanded with functionalities connected to detection and reconnaissance using various optoelectronic systems, passive recon, and radars. It allows for interconnectability between command, logistic and loitering munition control systems. Another important aspect is compatibility with C&C systems used by allies. This is possible thanks for various inter-operational solutions.

TOPAZ is not only modular but also scalable. It can support command process at any level. It’s fully integrated with other WB GROUP products, including FONET communication system as used in Polish Rosomak APC’s and American Army.

TOPAZ can also be connected to systems provided by other manufacturers. This allows a platoon-sized element to have a high-level situational awareness and enables the commanders at all levels to use the same platform for information exchange and battlefield control.

TOPAZ is capable of complex command and control of all means and methods of modern combat, including reconnaissance systems, C4I, communication, direct strike assets, fire control, and logistical support

TOPAZ, Integrated battlefield management system, is compatible with all WB GROUP products, including the FONET communication system

TOPAZ is a universal platform capable of information exchange and battlefield command. It also increases situational awareness at every level of command structure

The current version of TOPAZ supports management, command, and response to the detected threats according to the OODA cycle (Observation Orient Decide Act). The whole system consists of a few key modules.

TOPAZ Reccon module is responsible for real-time analysis of information from optoelectronic equipment. It works on data provided from UAVs and ground sensors such as ground radars and observation arrays.

TOPAZ Tactics allows for automatic command and management of subordinate units. Additionally, thanks to integration with civilian communication systems, it facilitates communication of military forces with civilian agencies and other uniformed services responsible for security.

TOPAZ Strike controls the loitering munition assets and enables the commanders to conduct precision strikes against detected threats.

TOPAZ Logistics monitors current ammunition counts and technical state of military equipment.

TOPAZ Fire is a fire-control module developed for command vehicles, conventional and rocket artillery vehicles. The module is capable of ballistic calculations for NABK (NATO Armament Ballistic Kernel) armament and ex-Warsaw Pact weapon systems and ammunition such as 122-mm and 152-mm artillery. TOPAZ Fire can also function as a stand-alone artillery calculator.

The newest version of TOPAZ uses OODA cycle rules when dealing with management, command, and response to detected threats

TOPAZ was developed to be not only modular but also scalable

Based on information provided by WB GROUP

This article was originally published on MILMAG 05-06/2018