Defence & Space

Tiberius Aerospace partners with the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Defence Technology Secretariat

UK and US-based defence industry newcomer Tiberius Aerospace has announced a partnership with the UK’s All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Defence…

2025-06-24 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

ICEYE to provide SAR Satellite Data to NATO Allied Command Operations

The Polish-Finnish company ICEYE will provide data from satellite-based synthetic aperture radars (SAR) to NATO’s Allied Command Operations (ACO) as part…

2025-06-24 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

SIPRI: Nuclear risks grow as new arms race looms

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute published a report entitled SIPRI Yearbook 2025, which, among other things, discusses the issue of…

2025-06-16 | Redakcja | 10 minutes

Polish 35 mm SA-35 Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun with PIT-Radwar

During the recent MSPO trade fair in Kielce, the company PIT-Radwar presented its proposal for a 35 mm self-propelled anti-aircraft gun…

2025-06-13 | Przemysław Gurgurewicz | 13 minutes

Tiberius Aerospace partners with the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Defence Technology Secretariat

UK and US-based defence industry newcomer Tiberius Aerospace has announced a partnership with the UK’s All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Defence…

2025-06-24 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

Mildat to Deliver 20mm Ammunition for Poland’s FA-50 Aircraft

The Polish Armament Agency has published the results of a tender procedure for the supply of a batch of 20×102 mm ammunition…

2025-06-20 | Rafał Muczyński | 3 minutes

SKW Cryptographic Security Certificate for Polish Comp@n Radio Set from the WB Group

The WB Group announced that the Comp@n system radio set, developed by its subsidiary Radmor, along with the Cryptographic Document Management…

2025-06-14 | Redakcja | 4 minutes

Advancing multi-domain EW operations: Rohde & Schwarz unveils latest innovations at AOC Europe

Rohde & Schwarz demonstrates the next generation of SIGINT/EW systems, sensor fusion and signal analysis solutions, designed to meet the evolving…

2025-05-12 | Redakcja | 2 minutes

IFRE 2025: Communication Systems From INVISIO at the Megmar Booth

At the 5th International Fire Protection & Rescue Exhibition KIELCE IFRE-EXPO, Megmar presented the offerings of the Danish company INVISIO.…

2025-06-18 | Michał Ihnatów | 3 minutes

IFRE 2025: Maskpol Showcases Protective Suits and Gas Masks

Maskpol, a company within the Polish Armaments Group (PGZ), presented part of its product range—protective suits and gas masks—at the 5th…

2025-06-17 | Michał Ihnatów | 2 minutes

Tiberius Aerospace partners with the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Defence Technology Secretariat

UK and US-based defence industry newcomer Tiberius Aerospace has announced a partnership with the UK’s All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Defence…

2025-06-24 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

ICEYE to provide SAR Satellite Data to NATO Allied Command Operations

The Polish-Finnish company ICEYE will provide data from satellite-based synthetic aperture radars (SAR) to NATO’s Allied Command Operations (ACO) as part…

2025-06-24 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

Poland: Buffer zone on the border with Belarus extended for another 90 days

The Minister of the Interior and Administration has signed a regulation introducing a temporary ban on presence in a designated area within the…

2025-06-11 | Redakcja | 4 minutes

Galvion awarded FBI contract for their Hellbender FE helmet

Galvion announces the successful award of a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) contract for their Galvion Hellbender Federal Edition (FE) helmet…

2025-06-09 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

ICEYE to provide SAR Satellite Data to NATO Allied Command Operations

The Polish-Finnish company ICEYE will provide data from satellite-based synthetic aperture radars (SAR) to NATO’s Allied Command Operations (ACO) as part…

2025-06-24 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

ICEYE to deliver space-based ISR capability to the Royal Netherlands Air Force

The Polish-Finnish company ICEYE has entered into cooperation with the Royal Netherlands Air Force to provide sovereign satellite-based reconnaissance, surveillance and…

2025-06-23 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

Tiberius Aerospace partners with the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Defence Technology Secretariat

UK and US-based defence industry newcomer Tiberius Aerospace has announced a partnership with the UK’s All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Defence…

2025-06-24 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

SIPRI: Nuclear risks grow as new arms race looms

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute published a report entitled SIPRI Yearbook 2025, which, among other things, discusses the issue of…

2025-06-16 | Redakcja | 10 minutes

ICEYE to provide SAR Satellite Data to NATO Allied Command Operations

The Polish-Finnish company ICEYE will provide data from satellite-based synthetic aperture radars (SAR) to NATO’s Allied Command Operations (ACO) as part…

2025-06-24 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

Six new satellites for ICEYE and its customers launched aboard the Transporter-14 rideshare mission

The Polish-Finnish company ICEYE successfully launched six new SAR satellites as part of the Transporter-14 mission coordinated by Exolaunch and SpaceX,…

2025-06-24 | Redakcja | 3 minutes
Shooting

Paris Air Show 2025: Bayraktar TB3 Debuts

The 55th edition of the International Paris Air and Space Show, held in the French capital, provided an opportunity for…

2025-06-19 | Radosław Niesobski | 3 minutes

IFRE 2025: Maskpol Showcases Protective Suits and Gas Masks

Maskpol, a company within the Polish Armaments Group (PGZ), presented part of its product range—protective suits and gas masks—at the 5th…

2025-06-17 | Michał Ihnatów | 2 minutes

Streamlight TLR-7 HL-X – a Bayonet of Light for Your Weapon

The devil’s not so scary once you shine a light on him—and he’s certainly easier to neutralize in the spotlight. A weapon-mounted flashlight…

2025-06-09 | Anna Mielczarek | 6 minutes

Mactronic M-Fire Guardian – A New Flashlight for Professionals

Mactronic is introducing a new angle flashlight, the M-Fire Guardian. According to the manufacturer, it is the first angle flashlight with red…

2025-06-04 | Michał Ihnatów | 6 minutes

IFRE 2025: Maskpol Showcases Protective Suits and Gas Masks

Maskpol, a company within the Polish Armaments Group (PGZ), presented part of its product range—protective suits and gas masks—at the 5th…

2025-06-17 | Michał Ihnatów | 2 minutes

UF PRO Introduces Waist/Flex Belts to Its Product Line

UF PRO, a Slovenian manufacturer of professional apparel and part of the Mehler Systems group, is adding a new accessory to its lineup…

2025-06-06 | Michał Ihnatów | 2 minutes

Enforce Tac 2025 starts on February 24th

Enforce Tac is an international trade fair aimed at law enforcement officers, experts from government agencies, and representatives of the…

2025-01-30 | Michał Ihnatów | 4 minutes

POLSECURE: Holsters HPE Poland offer for uniformed services

At the 3rd International Police and Public Security Fair POLSECURE 2024 in Kielce, Holsters HPE Poland presented its offer for…

2024-05-01 | Redakcja | 2 minutes

MSBS GROT BULLPUP conversion now available

Fabryka Broni “Łucznik” Radom is introducing long-awaited conversion kits for the MSBS GROT S16 FB-M1 and S10 FB-M1 semi-automatic rifles,…

2025-06-02 | Michał Ihnatów | 3 minutes

IDET 2025: Grand Power Showcases M4M1 Carbines for the Slovak Armed Forces

At the International Defence and Security Technologies Fair IDET 2023 in the Czech Republic, Grand Power — a Slovak firearms manufacturer — showcased…

2025-05-28 | Michał Ihnatów | 4 minutes

Paris Air Show 2025: Bayraktar TB3 Debuts

The 55th edition of the International Paris Air and Space Show, held in the French capital, provided an opportunity for…

2025-06-19 | Radosław Niesobski | 3 minutes

Setting Up a Shooting Belt: An Example with Clawgear

To assist with shooting training and beyond, various belts and gear configurations have been developed and customized to suit individual needs. It’s…

2024-11-28 | Łukasz Kołodziejski | 14 minutes

Over 100% increase in gun permits in Poland in 2024

The Polish Police have released statistical data on firearm permits issued in 2024. An increasing number of Poles now hold…

2025-02-20 | Michał Ihnatów | 5 minutes

Firearms In Poland 2023: Number of permits continues to grow

The National Police Headquarters has released statistics regarding the number of firearm permits and firearms themselves in the hands of…

2024-02-17 | Michał Ihnatów | 5 minutes

5 Best Value ATN Rifle Scopes Under €1500

ATN is a leading manufacturer of daytime optics, smart night vision, and thermal vision technology. The innovative features and ergonomic designs…

2022-11-11 | Redakcja | 8 minutes

MILMAG Visits Grand Power

Grand Power is a Slovak manufacturer of the acknowledged good quality firearms. Take part in our guided tour with English subtitles.

2022-05-23 | Redakcja | 1 minutes

Streamlight TLR-7 HL-X – a Bayonet of Light for Your Weapon

The devil’s not so scary once you shine a light on him—and he’s certainly easier to neutralize in the spotlight. A weapon-mounted flashlight…

2025-06-09 | Anna Mielczarek | 6 minutes

Protective Rescuer Vest – BC Arms Archangel

The Archangel Rescuer Vest is the result of a collaboration between Polish companies Currahee and BC Arms. It was created in…

2025-05-16 | Mariusz Rams | 6 minutes

EOTECH Holographic Sight – History, Technology, Practice

The holographic sight is a device known for nearly 30 years and used by professionals around the world. A favorite sight of many…

2024-09-02 | Michał Gaweł | 12 minutes

The Polish ILR-33 Bursztyn 2K rocket has reached space

A historic achievement by Polish engineers – the Polish suborbital rocket ILR-33 Bursztyn 2K has reached space. It is the first rocket in the world to use 98% hydrogen peroxide as an oxidizer. It was tested in its intended final configuration, and reached an altitude of 101 km.

The first rocket in the world to use 98% hydrogen peroxide as an oxidizer was tested in its intended final configuration and reached an altitude of 101 km. Thus, the date of July 3, 2024, will go down in the history of Polish achievements in the development of space technologies. The Polish Space Agency was involved in the rocket tests and co-financed this project.

Photos: Łukasiewicz – Institute Of Aviation

At the turn of June and July, engineers from Łukasiewicz – Institute of Aviation conducted an international launch campaign aimed at preparing the Polish suborbital rocket ILR-33 Bursztyn 2K for flight in space conditions. On July 3, at 1:09 PM, their tests were successfully completed. The rocket, launched from Andøya Space Sub-Orbital in Norway, reached an altitude of 101 km.

“We are proud of the fact, that a project of creating Polish suborbital rocket, inaugurated of the late professor Piotr Wolański, in which hydrogen peroxide with a concentration of 98% was used as a rocket propellant, celebrates international success. Reaching an altitude of 101 km by ILR-33 AMBER 2K is a breakthrough event in the history of Polish science and the achievements of Polish engineers in the field of space technologies. With this result, we have proven that scientists from our Institute can find a niche, create and implement breakthrough technologies, and that they are pioneers in bringing elements of sustainable development to space” says Dr. Eng. Paweł Stężycki, Director of Łukasiewicz – Institute of Aviation.

The suborbital rocket developed by engineers from Łukasiewicz – Institute of Aviation travels at a speed of nearly 1.4 km/s. Many of the technologies used in it can be successfully applied to other rocket systems. It is noteworthy that the head, along with the payload compartment, fell into the Norwegian Sea 135 km from the launch site as planned and was recovered.

The breaking of the space barier by the ILR-33 Bursztyn 2K rocket, developed at the Łukasiewicz – Institute of Aviation, is a historic moment. Never in our history has a Polish rocket reached such an altitude. This is a historic day for the Łukasiewicz – Institute of Aviation, but also a historic moment for the entire Polish rocket community. It is also proof that the civilian rocket engineering community can effectively support military projects. I hope that this success will increase the Ministry of National Defense’s attention to the competencies of Polish engineers working in civilian centers involved in the design of suborbital rockets,” says Dr. Michał Wierciński, Vice President of the Polish Space Agency.

After the success of four flight tests of the ILR-33 Bursztyn and ILR-33 Bursztyn 2K rockets, which took place at domestic launch sites, Łukasiewicz – Institute of Aviation organized an international mission to launch the rocket. For safety reasons, it took place at a space center designated for testing suborbital systems (Andøya Space) in Norway.

The fact that the Polish suborbital rocket reached an altitude of 101 km is the result of the commitment and determination of the entire research team, responsible for both designing the space technology and systematically testing and improving it. Both the rocket launch and the recovery of the warhead from the sea proceeded according to the planned mission scenario,” explains Dr. Eng. Sylwester Wyka, Deputy Director for Research at the Łukasiewicz – Institute of Aviation.

The achieved altitude is the result of systematically implemented improvements that the Institute’s engineers made after each test flight in Poland. These include: enlarged auxiliary engines, a hybrid engine for the main stage with extended operating time, and expanded launch infrastructure – including the WR-2 mobile suborbital rocket launcher. Additionally, the organization of flights was improved and adapted to meet the requirements of foreign launch sites.

Thanks to the tests in Norway, we have proven that the ILR-33 AMBER 2K rocket is a complete and mature technical solution. The consistent implementation of the AMBER program means that today we have qualified staff and research facilities necessary to develop complex space systems, not just components or subsystems. In Poland, it is possible to develop a launch vehicle that would allow carrying small satellites into low Earth orbit. Thus, Polish satellites could be launched using a domestic system, providing us with independent access to orbit. This is extremely important in terms of the growing role of satellite data in both civilian and military applications,” says Dr. Eng. Adam Okniński, Director of the Space Technologies Center at Łukasiewicz – Institute of Aviation.

Organizing the international space mission took six months, which was an ambitious challenge. The team of engineers and scientists from Łukasiewicz – Institute of Aviation was not only responsible for preparing the suborbital rocket for the international mission but also for selecting the launch site and managing the campaign’s logistics. After a detailed analysis, it was decided that the tests would take place in Norway, at Andøya Space, located almost 2000 km from Warsaw. Conducting the tests was made possible through cooperation with the Polish Space Agency, the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, the Ministry of Development and Technology, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Łukasiewicz – Institute of Organic Industry.

Organizing all logistics required transporting not only the ILR-33 AMBER 2K rocket, which is a technology demonstrator, but also the WR-2 mobile launcher, avionics systems, infrastructure supporting facility integration and propellants. It was necessary to obtain appropriate export permits and provide safe, specialized transport” summarizes M.Sc. Eng. Michał Pakosz, Head of the Rocket Technology Department and Project Manager of ILR-33 Bursztyn 2K at the Łukasiewicz – Institute of Aviation.

All design work related to the construction of the ILR-33 Bursztyn 2K suborbital rocket was carried out at the Łukasiewicz – Institute of Aviation. The ILR-33 Bursztyn 2K is a complete system developed based on space standards. It is the world’s first suborbital rocket to use one of the most environmentally friendly propellants, 98%+ hydrogen peroxide. We encounter hydrogen peroxide in everyday life, though at much lower concentrations. Examples include hydrogen peroxide solution (3%) or perhydrol used in the chemical industry for activities such as bleaching fabrics (30% solution). While hydrogen peroxide was used in rocket technologies several decades ago, the technology at the time did not allow for long-term missions, limiting its applications. The solution developed at the Łukasiewicz – Institute of Aviation offers the potential for the application of this propellant in satellite platforms and other long-term space missions.

Video: Łukasiewicz – Institute Of Aviation

Press release: Łukasiewicz – Institute Of Aviation and Polish Space Agency POLSA

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