Polish defense firm WB Group has rolled out Warmate 30, a new jet-powered loitering munition built to hunt targets hundreds of kilometers away.
Also known as Gladius 2, the drone can reach speeds of 450 kilometers (280 miles) per hour, cruise at more than 150 kilometers (93 miles) per hour, and strike targets up to 250 kilometers (155 miles) away.
The platform uses a flying-wing design with flaperons and a composite airframe intended to reduce its radar and thermal signatures. A rocket booster propels the drone during launch before its jet engine takes over.
With a maximum takeoff weight of 100 kilograms (220 pounds), the Warmate 30 can carry a payload of up to 30 kilograms (66 pounds). Available warhead options include high-explosive dual-purpose and thermobaric variants.
The drone can fly along predetermined waypoints, loiter over a target area, and switch to attack mode once a target is selected.
It can also operate within the Gladius reconnaissance-strike ecosystem, which lets operators detect targets with one platform and engage them with another.
Under this setup, the Warmate 30 will work alongside the FT-5 Łoś reconnaissance drone and other strike systems connected through the Topaz battle-management system.
Operators can deploy the drone from either a containerized launcher or a dedicated launch vehicle.
The Road Ahead
Several Gladius 2 prototypes are undergoing testing, including a rocket-assisted variant launched from a ground platform and another version without the booster.
WB Group is also developing the Gladius 3 and Gladius 4, with the former expected to make its debut in 2027.
“Since last year, the first few Warmate 30 prototypes have been produced and are being tested, and the system will soon be ready for mass production,” said Piotr Wojciechowski, chief executive officer of WB Group, as quoted by Breaking Defense.
“The UAV unveiling during MSPO is only due to constraints imposed by the main customer for the new system and ongoing testing. It is entering series production. It is currently a finished product.”
