On Saturday, August 29, 2026, WB Group announced that it had conducted a demonstration of the Gladius battery fire module (BMO) of the Unmanned Reconnaissance-Strike System (BSP-U) for potential partners from Sweden.
Photos: WB Group
“WB Group’s Gladius reconnaissance-strike system, unique within NATO, together with its unmanned platforms, including the FT-5 and Gladius 1/Warmate 5, was presented to Swedish partners at one of the military training grounds. Participants in the demonstration were able to see the operation of the unique C4ISR system in practice. Gladius combines reconnaissance and strike capabilities, open architecture, multisensor fusion and data exchange with NATO allies,” – the company stated on the X social media platform.
It is worth recalling that on June 29 this year in Gdynia, during an event related to the Orka program, WB Group and Swedish company Saab Defence and Security signed an agreement defining areas of industrial cooperation in the field of unmanned reconnaissance-strike capabilities (C4ISR UxS).
As reported at the time, the parties intend to intensify cooperation based on WB Group solutions: the Gladius reconnaissance-strike system, the Future Task Force manned-unmanned platoon concept and autonomous unmanned surface platforms. A key element of the cooperation is adapting the Gladius system to the operational requirements of the Swedish Armed Forces.
Earlier, on March 12 this year, during the Baltic Sea Security Talks conference devoted to Baltic Sea security and strengthening the Polish-Swedish strategic partnership, WB Group and Saab signed a cooperation agreement as a continuation of activities set out in a document signed in September 2025.
Gladius unmanned reconnaissance and strike system
The first user of the Gladius unmanned reconnaissance-strike system is the Polish Armed Forces. The system is in service with the 18th Mechanized Division and other Polish Army units. During the Baltic Shield 2026 exercise, conducted with the participation of the Armed Forces of the Kingdom of Denmark, Gladius confirmed its ability to operate in an allied environment and its full interoperability with other NATO solutions.
The open architecture and modular design of the Gladius system enable integration with national C5 systems (command, control, computers, communications and cyber defense), flexible adaptation to the user’s operational requirements, as well as the integration of selected components, such as vehicles supplied by local industry. The universal architecture of the NATO-standard Gladius system increases its attractiveness to potential users seeking solutions that combine high combat effectiveness with industrial sovereignty and provide growth potential. This is particularly relevant to countries on NATO’s eastern flank.
The Gladius is designed to conduct precision strikes against targets at ranges of up to 100 km and to perform airborne imagery reconnaissance using the reconnaissance variant of the FT-5 unmanned aerial vehicle, equipped with optoelectronic payloads capable of recording imagery in both daylight and thermal imaging modes, as well as SAR and ELINT variants. The system’s effectors are Gladius strike unmanned aerial vehicles integrated with the Topaz fire-control system used by the Polish Armed Forces. Each BMO includes launchers, command vehicles, ammunition vehicles, technical support vehicles and a stock of Gladius strike unmanned aerial vehicles.
Gladius is an entirely Polish development. In addition to the aforementioned integrated Topaz battlefield management system, the command and communications solutions — including the Fonet digital vehicular communications platform, computer terminals, active LAN and WAN network components and tactical radios — as well as the integration of all elements into a single coherent system are provided by WB Group. The prime contractor is WB Electronics, while subcontractors include WB Group companies Flytronic and ZAiUP Arex, as well as Huta Stalowa Wola, part of the Polish Armaments Group, which supplies the chassis for the Waran 4×4 multirole tactical vehicles in command and launcher vehicle configurations.
The first four BMO modules were ordered on May 6, 2022, for 2 billion PLN. Deliveries are ongoing. On May 28 this year, under the SAFE (Security Action for Europe) loan program, 12 additional BMO modules were ordered for more than 9.3 billion PLN net. The package will include the new-generation Gladius 2 effectors, which will make their public debut at the upcoming 34th International Defence Industry Exhibition MSPO 2026 at Targi Kielce.
The demonstration for the Swedish representatives was conducted by the 1st Masurian Artillery Brigade, which yesterday published a short video:
Video: 1st Masurian Artillery Brigade via Facebook
Unikalny w Sojuszu Północnoatlantyckim system poszukiwawczo-uderzeniowy @WBGroup_PL #GLADIUS, wraz z wchodzącymi w jego skład platformami bezzałogowymi (w tym #FT5 i Gladius 1/#WARMATE 5), został zaprezentowany szwedzkim partnerom na jednym z poligonów wojskowych. Uczestnicy… pic.twitter.com/9ffVugM1r5
— WB GROUP (@WBGroup_PL) August 29, 2026
