WB Group

2022

Light civilian UAV manufacturing plan to replace Chinese products

At the end of July 2022, the Warsaw Drone Summit conference was held in Warsaw, in which the Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine Mikhail Fedorov took part. The ex-head of the anti-terrorism center at the CIA Bernard Hudson also participated in it. The American presented the concept of the "Valley of Drones" - a production cluster that can help the development of the UAV sector.

The first plant under this project is to open within the next three months in Skarzysko-Kamenna, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship. About 500 employees are already being recruited. The plant is owned by the Polish company WB Group, which develops UAVs.

The event was attended by Elizabeth Charnock, head of the American company Chenope, which develops software for UAVs. Although this firm conducts research in the field of tracking human behavior, people with military experience are invited to work.

The United States, together with Ukraine and Poland, is working to create industrial potential for the construction of its own light UAVs, which can replace Chinese devices.

Polish army to receive several hundred company drones

Defense Minister Poland Mariusz Blaszczak said in May 2022 that several hundred Warmate, Gladius and FlyEye drones will enter service with the Polish military this year.

Deliveries will be carried out under contracts with the Polish company WB Group - the manufacturer of UAVs. Part of the procurement was provided back in January of this year, however, it is fully funded under the terms of the recently adopted Law on the Protection of the Fatherland. The details of the contracts were not disclosed.

According to Blaszczak, the new drones will help Polish troops "prepare to repel the attack if it occurs." Moreover, since 2017, the same FlyEye have been in service with the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and Warmate is even produced on its territory.

In 2018, FlyEye was shot down in the DPR, which adjusted the mortar fire of the Ukrainian security forces in the village of Sakhanka in the south of the republic.

The main function of FlyEye, as stated, is reconnaissance, but its characteristics allow it to raise about 2 kg: it is quite possible to attach an explosive device and drop it at the right time.

At the same time, Warmate has been produced at the Chezara Chernihiv enterprise since 2016, its Ukrainian name is Sokol. Warmate also acquired Turkey and redirected them to supported troops in Libya.

Earlier, the Polish edition of Wiadomości reported that it was the Warmate barraging ammunition that was used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces to strike at Russian troops.

At the same time, Gladius is a reconnaissance and strike system that consists of Polish unmanned aerial vehicles manufactured by WB Group, including reconnaissance FT-5.