During the 33rd International Defense Industry Exhibition (MSPO) at Targi Kielce, the Łukasiewicz Research Network – Industrial Research Institute for Automation and Measurements (PIAP) showcased the 4-ton HUNTeR unmanned vehicle, equipped with a remotely operated weapon module featuring the WLKM 12.7 mm multi-barrel machine gun developed by Zakłady Mechaniczne Tarnów (ZMT), a company belonging to the Polish Armaments Group (PGZ).
Photo: Jakub Link-Lenczowski, MILMAG
PIAP HUNTeR is a 4-ton unmanned vehicle measuring 470 cm in length and 220 cm in width. The vehicle is powered by two electric traction motors and can reach a speed of around 50 km/h (depending on the configuration and intended role). The platform is equipped with eight high-resolution HD cameras and LIDAR laser-radar sensors. It was previously showcased and tested in Poland, France, and Italy with the ZMU-03 unmanned turret developed by Arex, a subsidiary of the WB Group.
The vehicle has now been fitted with a remotely operated turret combining an electro-optical sensor head with the WLKM 12.7 mm multi-barrel machine gun, creating a stabilized fire-support system. The system is designed for rapid detection, tracking, and engagement of unmanned aerial vehicles—from nano-drones detected at up to 3.5 km by radar, to larger airborne targets such as aircraft and helicopters within the weapon’s range.
The system offers three engagement modes: manual, automatic target tracking based on radar data, and an assisted auto-intercept mode in which the operator decides when to open fire.
The gun is a Gatling-type weapon with a theoretical rate of fire of up to 3600 rounds per minute. With 400 rounds onboard, it can deliver effective fire at elevations from –20° to +70° and at an effective range of up to 2200 m. The system provides full 360-degree observation and firing capability.
It is worth recalling that ZMT presented a UAV-countering system using the 12.7 mm WLKM mounted on the Waran 4×4 Tactical Multirole Vehicle chassis at MSPO 2023. A year earlier, a research-and-development demonstrator of a mobile UAV countermeasure system was shown.
Additionally, the Łukasiewicz Research Network – Industrial Research Institute for Automation and Measurements (PIAP) is carrying out the LOST-UAV project: a comprehensive system for detecting and kinetically neutralizing unmanned aerial platforms with automatic flight prediction, integrated with the HUNTeR unmanned ground platform.