As early as the 30th International Defence Industry Exhibition in 2022, an agreement was signed between the State Treasury – Armament Agency – and WB Electronics S.A. for a development project intended to result in the development of several prototypes of an unmanned reconnaissance and strike aircraft, together with technical documentation for the GLADIUS loitering munition systems. As a result of the GLADIUS-2 development project, the Polish Armed Forces plan to acquire the capability for rapid, covert, and precise engagement of high-value enemy targets and facilities of operational importance at ranges exceeding 100 km.
Gladius-2 / Image: WB Group
The first official confirmation of the progress of work on the new system was published in late May and early June 2026 during the signing of SAFE contracts with the Polish defense industry. In its statement, WB Group explicitly acknowledged that it would deliver strike systems already known to the Polish Armed Forces, as well as new effectors, including those developed based on the results of the GLADIUS 2 development project, capable of attacking selected high-value targets located up to several hundred kilometers from the launch site. This is also confirmed by the Armament Agency in its release (WB Group to Supply the Polish Armed Forces with more UAVs under the SAFE Program).
The officially published graphic confirms several details about the new effector. It will be a flying-wing platform, most likely jet-powered. Gladius 2 has been designed to reduce its radar cross-section, which, combined with its officially declared range of several hundred kilometers, makes it not only a support tool for the Rocket Forces and Artillery, but also a weapon capable of disrupting reconnaissance and command support systems, as well as anti-access systems, breaking through the enemy’s A2/AD zones deep behind the front line.
Although WB Group has not disclosed the range of weapons carried or the systems integrated with the Gladius 2 prototype, it can be assumed that the new unmanned aircraft will be equipped with next-generation communications and telemetry systems, enabling it to operate deep inside areas affected by electronic warfare (EW) systems and integrated air defenses specialized in intercepting unmanned aerial vehicles. Backward compatibility can also be assumed, allowing Gladius 2 effectors to operate jointly with FlyEye and FT-5 observation systems and to be fully integrated into the TOPAZ system.
This is particularly important because Gladius is an unmanned system built in part on lessons learned from the war in Ukraine. It integrates reconnaissance, command, and precision strike within a single network-centric architecture. Combining sensors, effectors, and command systems into one system enables the creation of a detect-identify-strike chain compliant with NATO and European Union standards.
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