BREAKING NEWS
WB Group, a Polish defense company, unveiled Gladius 2, a new-generation loitering munition technology. Developed with radar and infrared signature reduction strategies, the system aims to minimize detection probability by air defense radars and other sensors. A specialized jet engine is employed to reduce motor-generated thermal signature. Also known as Warmate 30, this kamikaze drone represents a new addition to WB Group's Warmate strike drone family.
Gladius 2 can be equipped with different warheads according to operational requirements. The system integrates various warhead options, including fragmentation and armor-piercing variants, and carries a 30-kilogram modular warhead. The product can be fired from shipping containers or launch platforms, offering logistical flexibility without dependence on fixed installations. This adaptability enables rapid position changes during operational deployment.
WB Group did not design Gladius 2 as a standalone system. The FT-5 Łoś reconnaissance drone is integrated with strike assets through the Topaz command-and-control system to create comprehensive reconnaissance-strike capability. This architecture reduces the classical "sensor-shooter" distinction within network-centric warfare concepts, enabling targets detected by reconnaissance drones to be engaged by Gladius 2 through the same network. The system thus provides real-time data flow and coordination in modern warfare environments.
Development of Gladius 2 commenced in September 2022. Conducted during the intensification of the Ukraine-Russia conflict, the project incorporated field-identified munition requirements into the system's design. Based on the electrically-powered first-generation Gladius model with a 100-kilometer range, Gladius 2 was designed leveraging these operational experiences. The system's official public debut occurred at MSPO 2026, held in Kielce, Poland.
WB Group designates its products based on the weight of their carried warheads. Previously, the Warmate product family was classified as Warmate 3, Warmate 5, Warmate 20, and Warmate 50. The new munition Warmate 30 will occupy its position within these variants. This nomenclature system classifies different platforms within the product family according to the warhead weight they can carry.
In recent years, Poland has prioritized unmanned weapon systems such as Warmate and Gladius. In May 2026, a contract was signed between the Polish Armaments Agency and WB Group covering the supply of over 400 Warmate kamikaze UAVs, approximately 200 FlyEye reconnaissance drones, and 12 battery-level firing modules for the Gladius system. A portion of the project is financed under the European Union's SAFE (Security Action for Europe) program. This process underscores cooperation within the EU defense ecosystem and joint financing mechanisms.
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