On May 6, 2022, Polish Minister of National Defense Mariusz Blaszczak approved a contract for the purchase by the Armament Agency (Agencję Uzbrojenia) from the Polish company WB Electronics S.A. (as part of the WB Group) of the first four battery sets (modules) of the new Gladius unmanned reconnaissance and strike complex for the artillery of the Polish Army.
These kits should be delivered already in 2022 to the artillery regiments of the Polish army stationed in the eastern part of Poland. The contract includes an option for an undisclosed number of additional complexes.
In total, within the framework of this program (including options), it is planned to purchase “several hundred” unmanned aerial vehicles of the Gladius complex developed and manufactured by WB Electronics, and the total cost of the program is estimated at 2 billion zlotys ($ 450 million), including training equipment and a technical support package.
Gladius BSP-U
The Gladius complex was started by the development of WB Electronics on the instructions of the Polish Armament Agency in 2020 and is an integrated system for targeting and hitting targets at a range of up to 100 km for missile and artillery units of the Polish army. The complex is integrated into the automated field artillery control system of the Polish army TOPAS, and the batteries of the complex should be part of each artillery regiment, and possibly, in the future, be introduced into the artillery and missile divisions.
The complex includes two types of UAVS developed by WB Electronics – the FT-5 reconnaissance and target designation apparatus of the aircraft scheme, equipped with a round-the-clock electron-optical system, and the Gladius BSP-U strike vehicle. The battery pack (module) of the complex will include mobile launchers, control vehicles, transport-charging and maintenance, as well as a fleet of unmanned aerial vehicles of both types.
The second prototype of the FT-5 reconnaissance and targeting UAV developed by the Polish company WB Electronics (c) WB Electronics
FT-5 is a tactical reconnaissance and surveillance UAV advertised by WB Electronics for several years with a take-off weight of 85 kg, with a wingspan of 6.4 m and a length of 3.1 m, equipped with two wing internal combustion engines with pulling screws. The flight duration is up to 10 hours, the ceiling is up to 5000 m and the radius according to radio control conditions is 100-150 km (although flight outside the radio horizon is possible in autonomous mode). Prototypes of the FT-5 UAVs had a wheeled chassis and an airfield takeoff and landing, but for serial UAVs, a start from a mobile catapult and a certain “safe landing system” are claimed.
The Gladius BSP-U strike vehicle was first demonstrated at the contract approval ceremony for the complexes on May 6, and, as can be judged by its appearance, it is actually a variant of the WARMATE 2 barrage ammunition previously presented by WB Electronics, developed with the participation of the Emirati defense holding Tawazun.
The characteristics of the UAV have not yet been disclosed, with the exception of the claimed range of up to 100 km, but, according to some Polish military media, the Gladius BSP-U allegedly is not a barrage ammunition, that is, it probably should be a reusable UAV with suspended weapons – which is doubtful, based on its size. The WARMATE 2 itself is similar in appearance to the FT-5, but has smaller dimensions and one electric motor in the tail with a pushing screw.
The weight of the WARMATE 2 is about 30 kg with a warhead weight of 5 kg, the length of the device is 2.5 m, the wingspan is 2.5 m, the flight duration is up to 2 hours, the ceiling is up to 3000 m, the actual working height of the barrage is 200 m, the maximum speed is 150 km / h. Launch from a mobile catapult.
Photos: (c) Kacper Bakuła / Defence24.pl and the Polish Ministry of National Defense
Source: VPK