A leading Polish manufacturer of military electronics, communication systems, software, and drones, WB Group, presented a range of intriguing innovations at the ongoing MSPO 2024 (International Defense Industry Exhibition). One of the highlights is the Warmate 50 deep-strike drone concept, which is an improved Iranian Shahed-136 drone type.
For over a decade, WB Group has been developing and selling the Warmate family of loitering munitions. The idea for Warmate first emerged in 2010 as a result of discussions with Polish army soldiers. However, the army leadership showed no interest, so the company funded the development of Warmate independently.
In 2012, the public first saw the Warmate concept, and in 2016, they unveiled the serial version of the first-generation Warmate 1.0. It was Europe’s first serially produced loitering munition.
With an electric motor and a pusher propeller in its basic version, the approximately 5-kilogram Warmate 1.0 can reach speeds of 80 km/h or 150 km/h in dive-attack mode. Its operational altitude ranges from 30 to 200 meters, with a flight time of 60 minutes. It can carry various types of warheads up to one kilogram. The Polish and Ukrainian armies, among others, have acquired the drones (including the latest versions) since 2017. The latest press release claims that these drones, delivered in large numbers, have proven effective in combat.
Ukraine publicly presented the Warmate 2.0 in 2017. One of the most significant upgrades is the use of automated target guidance through machine image recognition, which can counter enemy electronic warfare systems. Since 2021, there has been a Warmate 3.0 variant capable of operating in environments with suppressed GPS signals, further improving automated target guidance. It is also the first serially produced drone capable of operating in a swarm.
Remigiusz Wilk, WB Group’s communications director, explains: “After launch, an operator can take control of a dozen Warmate drones. Simply click on the screen and select where and who you want to strike.”
Warmate 2, the predecessor of Warmate 5, debuted at MSPO 2018 with a 30 kilogram take-off weight, a 5-kilogram warhead, and a 2.5-meter wingspan.
Warmate’s price is not publicly known. In September 2022, Ukrainian citizens raised $1.7 million to purchase 40 Warmate drones (Warmate 3.0). Based on simple division and assuming that 50% of the cost goes to the munition and 50% to other components, the cost of one Warmate 3.0 (including the warhead) is approximately $20,000. This is about 20 to 30 times more than volunteer-produced FPV drones. Polish Warmate drones exclusively target high-value targets protected by enemy electronic warfare systems, such as mobile air defense systems or radars.
A variant of Warmate 3.0 is the Warmate TL (Tube Launch) drone with folding wings, integrated into a transport-launch container similar to anti-tank guided missiles (e.g., javelin). The container can be mounted on various vehicles, ships, and even larger unmanned aircraft.
A parallel development branch is the Warmate R (Reconnaissance), equipped with an advanced sensor head. Its three cameras with digital zoom scan the front and lower hemispheres. This is a cost-effective drone for battlefield reconnaissance and artillery fire correction.
At the current MSPO 2024, the company unveiled four new additions to the Warmate family: the strike drones Warmate 5, Warmate 20, and Warmate 50, as well as the reconnaissance “containerized” Warmate TL-R (TL-Reconnaissance).
The latter is an advanced version of the reconnaissance Warmate R. Warmate TL-R containers are integrated into reconnaissance vehicles like the AWR (Artillery Reconnaissance Vehicle) based on the Rosomak chassis. These vehicles will search for and designate targets, correct fire, and assess strikes for self-propelled 120mm RAK mortars.
Warmate 5 is an upgraded version of Warmate 2, which has a 5-kilogram warhead. It features improved connectivity, a modified control station, enhanced software, and a redesigned warhead. The highly advanced Gladius complex developed the BSP-U (Unmanned Strike System) reconnaissance-strike drone on the Warmate 5 platform.
Six months ago, the Warmate 20, with a 20-kilogram warhead, was introduced. Its tactical and technical specifications remain classified, but its range is reportedly in the hundreds of kilometers. The drone is powered by WB Group’s internal combustion engine, and a version with a jet engine is also under development.
However, the most attention is focused on the Warmate 50 drone. As the name suggests, it carries a 50-kilogram warhead, approximately half the size of the GMLRS (Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System) warhead, similar to the Iranian Shahed-136.
Unlike its predecessors, the Warmate 50 does not have a replaceable warhead or sensor. The design prioritizes combat efficiency over flexibility, specifically tailoring it for long-range strike missions. It is powered by an internal combustion engine.
According to the Polish website Defense 24, WB Group is still working on the final design of Warmate 50, and its tactical-technical parameters remain unknown. However, it is said to be capable of striking targets hundreds of kilometers away. This highly capable drone, when combined with thorough reconnaissance and planning to identify and bypass enemy air defense systems, becomes a formidable weapon for long-range strikes.
The Warmate 50’s “modus operandi” involves mass strikes using dozens of drones, similar to the Iranian Shahed-136. The goal is primarily to distract, overload, and deplete enemy air defense systems. The enemy air defenses cannot ignore this type of drone, as its large warhead can cause significant damage.