WB Group at MSPO 2026: Gladius 2 and new unmanned systems

During the meeting, WB Group President Piotr Wojciechowski referred to the growing capabilities of the Gladius system. In the Polish Armed Forces, it forms part of the Rocket and Artillery Forces, which is why all unmanned aircraft included in Gladius are integrated with the TOPAZ battlefield management system. Until now, the battery module delivered to the Polish Armed Forces has included launcher vehicles, command vehicles, ammunition vehicles and technical support vehicles, as well as a stock of various reconnaissance and strike unmanned aerial vehicles.

Piotr Wojciechowski noted that the Gladius system is being offered to foreign customers and has attracted interest from a number of NATO members. He emphasized, however, that certain solutions incorporated into the system will be available only in the version intended for the Polish Armed Forces. He also stressed that the Gladius offered to other users differs from the Polish configuration, not least because of the specific requirements of individual potential customers.

Unmanned aircraft forming part of the Gladius system

During the meeting, Piotr Wojciechowski also discussed the export potential of Gladius. As he emphasized, while unmanned aircraft with performance comparable to components of the Polish solution are appearing in some European countries, unlike WB Group, no other supplier offers a complete system integrating effectors, reconnaissance assets, communications, battlefield management and other elements.

In the case of large export contracts, local regulations may require licensing arrangements or the establishment of special-purpose companies to manufacture components abroad. In Piotr Wojciechowski’s view, the location of production facilities is less important than ownership of the production rights. He stressed that placing manufacturing facilities in countries neighboring Poland, close to the border, could be highly beneficial.

The WB Group President also revealed that work is under way on additional components of the Gladius system, although it is currently too early to disclose further details.

Asked about WB Group’s current production capacity in the field of unmanned systems, Piotr Wojciechowski said that the current production rate is approximately 25 unmanned aircraft per day. Most of these are Warmate-family loitering munitions. He also emphasized that this production covers all key components without relying on imported parts from China.

The Gladius system integrates reconnaissance, command and precision strike capabilities within a single network-centric architecture. It is a unique unmanned system on the European scale, developed in part on the basis of lessons learned from the war in Ukraine.

As Piotr Wojciechowski emphasized, Gladius’ advantage stems not only from the capabilities of its individual unmanned platforms, but from the full integration of sensors, effectors and command systems. This enables the creation of a detection, identification and engagement chain compliant with NATO and European Union standards. The system already includes the well-known BSP-U Gladius 1 effectors. Depending on requirements, and demonstrating the openness of the Polish architecture, additional effectors can be integrated. One of them is Gladius 2, which will make its debut at MSPO 2026. It is an effector designed to strike high-value targets at operational ranges.

Warmate 5, effector of the Gladius system

During the meeting, Piotr Wojciechowski provided several details about Gladius 2. Its overall geometry is similar to a flying-wing design, although the WB Group aircraft is smaller. The proportions between the flat lifting-body fuselage and the swept wings differ somewhat from, for example, the US X-47B, with the fuselage area being proportionally smaller relative to the wings (Gladius 2 confirmed).

The Gladius 2 unmanned aircraft is expected to feature reduced radar and thermal signatures. It is powered by a jet engine, giving it a high-subsonic speed. The air intake is located on the upper surface of the forward fuselage. Its range is approximately 300 km. The effector’s dimensions allow it to be launched from the launcher currently used by the Gladius system. Two launch options are available: with a launch booster, enabling launch from the launcher, or without one.

According to Piotr Wojciechowski, what will be shown at this year’s MSPO will not be a mock-up, but an actual unmanned aircraft of the system. The WB Group President revealed that flight testing of several examples is already well advanced and that the system is expected to reach readiness for serial production soon.

Discussing lessons from the war in Ukraine, Piotr Wojciechowski emphasized the importance of the expanding separation zone between opposing forces. Before 2022, it was around 2 km; only a dozen or so months ago it had grown to approximately 30 km, while today, according to Piotr Wojciechowski, the separation zone is between 40 and 50 km. This means that currently fielded artillery systems must be reassessed. While a range of 80 km was once sufficient for rocket artillery to strike targets behind the front line, today the required range is increasing to 150 or even 200 km.

As the WB Group President noted, Gladius operates within this battlespace. Successive Warmate effector variants are being equipped with increasingly larger warheads and greater ranges. The new versions differ little externally from their predecessors, with most changes involving onboard electronics and software.

Launch of a Warmate 5 from a Gladius system launcher

As the capabilities of effectors increase, the capabilities of reconnaissance assets must also grow. The FlyEye known from earlier years shares little with the versions currently in use beyond its external appearance. The range of reconnaissance unmanned aircraft has increased to such an extent that they can provide targeting data for extended-range effectors.

Piotr Wojciechowski emphasized that the range of some effector variants reaches as much as 1,000 km. In such cases, strike systems must be supported by other reconnaissance assets, which the WB Group President was not yet willing to disclose, instead directing those interested to the WB Group exhibition at this year’s MSPO.

This year’s pre-MSPO media meeting also provided an opportunity for a broader presentation of one of WB Group’s new developments – this time in the maritime domain. The system in question is the Stormrider unmanned vessel. But what is new about it, given that Stormrider made its debut at MSPO last year? Based on statements by WB Group representatives, it is difficult to avoid the impression that the earlier unveiling was somewhat forced by information that emerged after Stormrider was spotted during testing – but that is only my theory (Poland’s WB Group Unveils STORMRIDER Unmanned Surface Vessel).

The maritime unmanned system unveiled last year, now presented under its full designation: Stormrider 850

This time, we learned that the unmanned vessel known to us from last year is called Stormrider 850 and is a modular and scalable reconnaissance-strike unmanned system with a range of 500 km. It can carry Warmate TL-R or TL-C loitering munitions, as well as the ZMU-05 weapon station. The unmanned vessel can be equipped with a navigation radar, sonar and an electro-optical payload. It is powered by an onboard Volvo Penta diesel engine coupled to a waterjet propulsion system.

While quite a lot was already known about Stormrider 850, apart from its designation, the meeting also introduced its smaller sibling, Stormrider 550. It is an unmanned surface vessel intended for patrol, reconnaissance and training missions, as well as strike tasks. It is designed for use in territorial waters, inland waters and ports. It is 5.5 m long and can optionally be fitted with effectors; in the strike variant, it can be equipped with a warhead. Available sensor options include a navigation radar, sonar and an electro-optical payload. Propulsion is provided by an outboard engine.

The smaller member of the family – Stormrider 550

The platform’s modular architecture allows the vessel to be configured according to the specific requirements of a given mission—from a cost-effective training platform to an advanced system for surveillance and monitoring of maritime areas. The selection of sensors and equipment makes it possible to expand its capabilities with additional specialized applications tailored to user requirements. Interestingly, it is not limited to maritime operations. Thanks to its dimensions, it is also well suited for use on inland waters.

Thanks to its modular design, Stormrider 550 can be configured in different unmanned surface vessel variants tailored to specific missions. It is available in two main configurations: low-profile and high-profile. The low-profile configuration serves as the basis for specialized and combat variants in which high speed, maneuverability and rapid response are prioritized, while the sensor suite is limited and a high degree of operational stealth is maintained.

In this configuration, the Stormrider 550 has been developed in a training variant intended for realistic personnel training. It can be used as a target for naval weapon crews, as a realistic training asset for Force Protection exercises in ports, roadsteads and anchorages, or as a trainer for operators.

Stormrider 550 in the low-profile configuration

The low-profile configuration also includes an interceptor variant designed to intercept and neutralize other unmanned surface vessels through direct kinetic action. The objective is either to collide with the intercepted target or to detonate in its immediate vicinity. As Remigiusz Wilk, Communications Director at WB Group, acknowledged, it turns out that the option of physically ramming the target is also considered desirable by potential users.

The high-profile configuration of the Stormrider 550 differs from the low-profile version by the addition of a mast. In this configuration, the unmanned vessel is intended for patrol and reconnaissance missions and, importantly, can also be adapted for civilian operators tasked with protecting critical infrastructure. The vessel can be equipped with a variety of sensors. In the patrol variant, it is optimized for long-duration surveillance missions at lower speeds.

Stormrider 550 in the high-profile configuration / Photos and illustrations: WB Group

Based on this configuration, the patrol-reconnaissance variant can be used for multisensor surveillance, reconnaissance and patrol missions in coastal waters or within port infrastructure. In this version, the Stormrider 550 can perform bathymetric surveys such as seabed mapping; search for underwater objects, including mine-like objects; inspect underwater elements of critical infrastructure; support search operations, including locating people in the water; patrol along coastlines; and monitor channels and port waters. Patrol variants can operate in teams of four to six unmanned vessels to increase mission effectiveness.

In its civilian configuration, it can serve as an autonomous platform for protecting, monitoring and inspecting infrastructure from the waterside. Its tasks may include patrolling inland waters and ports; visual inspection of hydrotechnical and port infrastructure; waterside surveillance of infrastructure; and seabed inspection and profiling.

WB Group representatives emphasize that several major new products and systems will be unveiled at this year’s MSPO. They will be presented on the first day of MSPO 2026.