WB GROUP hosted representatives of the Canadian and Australian armed forces in Poland. One of the main highlights of the visit was a demonstration of the GLADIUS reconnaissance and strike system used by the Polish Armed Forces. The foreign guests were able to see the entire system in action, including effector strikes, and speak with military users and experts from WB Group about integrated unmanned solutions.
Canada and Australia are markets where the Polish company is steadily building its presence. This led to the signing of agreements with four Canadian entities during this year’s XXXIV MSPO. A broad scope of cooperation, direct contact with users and an understanding of their needs, and collaboration with local industry remain the foundation of WB GROUP’s activities in foreign markets.
Noah Note: While the Polish deal didn't execute as many expected, that doesn't mean it is dead yet. There is still a general interest with DDI progressing, and as we develop future requirements. WB GROUP has recently signed agreements with CAE, WESCAM, Robotics Centre Inc. and Rosborough Boats related to future collaboration opportunities.
The Polish side definetly expected things at MSPO, but sometimes stuff doesn't quite work out as planned. People hate to hear it, I know, but plans change. Gladius is an interesting system though.
It is a fully integrated reconnaissance and strike UAS system that pairs FT-5 tactical reconnaissance drones with precise strike effectors, specifically the BSP-U and WARMATE series of loitering munitions, into a single platform, allowing Gladius to operate as a self-contained “identify-target-strike” platform.
The FT-5 acts as the primary Sense platform, utilizing a modular payload system to integrate a multitude of different sensors. This can include traditional visual and thermal cameras, electronic intelligence (ELINT) packages, and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) systems. The FT-5 can remain airborne for up to 10 hours in its standard configuration, at ranges of 150+ kilometers.
For strike capabilities, the system relies on the BSP-U and WARMATE 5/10. This gives the Gladius the capability to hit targets well beyond the 100-kilometer range; these upgraded munitions offer a substantial increase in destructive power compared to earlier models.
They feature swappable warheads in the 5 to 10-kilogram range, allowing operators to customize the strike by choosing between armour-piercing (HEAT) charges to destroy heavy vehicles or high-explosive fragmentation (HE-FRAG) options for softer targets.
All of this is then fed into WB Group's proprietary "EyeQ" AI software, which scans the data to automatically detect and classify potential targets. All of this is further integrated under WB Group's TOPAZ battlefield management system.
Overall, Gladius seems like a fantastic system with fantastic capabilities, all developed by Polish industry. Future developments of the Gladius system under the Gladius II project will further extend these capabilities by adding new munitions and systems able to reach out several hundred kilometers.
Does it fit our current requirements? With DDI around never say never. There is no specific project or requirement that such a system like Gladius exactly fits, but that doesn't mean we won't hear more on it.