WB Electronics Warmate

WB Electronics Warmate is a class of loitering munition UAVs developed by the Polish defence contractor WB Group.^[1] It can be equipped with several different payloads, including fragmentation, HEAT and thermobaric warheads^[1] and has a swarming capability.^[2]

WB Electronics Warmate
Type	Loitering munition
Place of origin	Poland
Service history
Used by	See Operators
Wars	Russian invasion of Ukraine
Production history
Manufacturer	WB Electronics
Unit cost	$26,459.93 in 2017 (equivalent to $33,942 in 2024)
Produced	2016–current
Specifications
Mass	Empty: 4 kg (8.8 lb) MTOW: 5.7 kg (13 lb) (Warmate), 30 kg (66 lb) (Warmate 2)
Length	1.1 m (3 ft 7 in)
Width	1.6 m (5 ft 3 in)
Warhead	Warmate: Training, HE-FRAG with 300g of TNT or HEAT (penetration 200–240mm of RHA) Warmate 2: Training, HE-FRAG, thermobaric FAE or HEAT (penetration 400mm of RHA)
Warhead weight	Warmate: 1.4 kg (3.1 lb) Warmate 2: 5 kg (11 lb)
Engine	Electric motor
Operational range	Warmate: 30 km (19 mi) Warmate 2: 30–240 km (19–149 mi)
Flight ceiling	9,800 ft (3,000 m) AMSL
Flight altitude	Warmate: 150–300 m (490–980 ft) AGL Warmate 2: 100–200 m (330–660 ft) AGL
Maximum speed	Flight: 120 km/h (75 mph; 65 kn) Attack: 150 km/h (93 mph; 81 kn)
Accuracy	1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) CEP

Warmate entered into the initial production in 2016.^[3]

Variants

Warmate-R

Warmate-R is an intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) version based on the same fuselage and ground segment. It integrates 3 cameras to provide multiple views: an 8mm lens facing forward, and an 8mm and 12mm optics providing smooth tilting capabilities from a downward position (0 deg) to one side (90 deg). It can be equipped with daylight or thermal cameras with remote pan and tilt, as well as a laser target designator. It has a "Target Lock" mode for tracking moving targets and enables accurate target location data.^[4]

Warmate-TL

Warmate-TL (Tube Launch) is a variant that can be launched from man-portable or vehicle-mounted tubular launchers and can be integrated with multiple different platforms such as ground vehicles, helicopters, or warships.^[2]

"3.0" generation

The "3.0" generation of the Warmate system has been refined based on the inputs from customers and their combat experiences. The system is characterized by:^[2]

• 30 km (19 mi; 16 nmi) radio range with control handover support for a total operational range of 80 km (50 mi; 43 nmi),
• 70 minute flight endurance,
• Warheads designed for better firepower against high-value targets, incl. persons and reconnaissance, communications and EW systems,
• Quiet^[5] low-RPM engine that can be shut down during the engagement to avoid detection,
• Ability to fold the propeller blades in the final attack phase of flight,^[5]
• Ability to operate in all weather conditions,
• Extra control surfaces on the wings for improved maneuverability, and
• Integration with other WB Electronics systems such as the FlyEye mini reconnaissance drone or Topaz battle management system.

Warmate 2

Warmate 2 is a newer, larger, and heavier version of the original Warmate drone to be launched from elastomeric vehicle-mounted launchers.^[2]

This new model features an increased 30 kg (66 lb) maximum take-off weight^[6] and heavier 5 kg (11 lb) high-explosive-fragmentation (HE-FRAG), fuel-air explosive (FAE) and HEAT warheads designed to destroy armored vehicles, command outposts and other hardened targets.^[2] The HEAT warhead is capable of penetration of 400mm of RHA.^[6] The manufacturer promotes this variant as a viable alternative to anti-tank guided missiles, allowing for engagements at standoff distances, while also simplifying target acquisition.^[5] The rest of the warheads has a 40 m (130 ft) fragmentation (HE) or implosion (FAE) effect.^[6]

The radio range of Warmate 2 has been extended to 180 km (110 mi) for a total operational range of 30–240 km (19–149 mi), which translates to a 2 hour flight endurance. The flight altitude was lowered to 100–200 m (330–660 ft) for lower probability of intercept.^[2]

The flight control is fully automatic with waypoint navigation, and an automatic video tracker with EO and thermal IR cameras allowing for all-weather operations and night combat.^[6]

W2MPIR (Vampire) system

W2MPIR (Vampire; pol. Wielowarstwowy System Przełamania A2AD/Powietrzny Inteligentny Rój; transl. Multi-Layered A2AD Penetration System/Aerial Smart Swarm) is a system designed to breach the enemy's anti-access/area denial (A2AD) defenses and provide a cost-effective strike/reconnaissance capability to fulfill the suppression of enemy air/missile defenses (SEAD) and electronic warfare (EW) missions.^[2][7]

The system consists of assorted interoperable WB Electronics UAVs operating in a swarm, including the Warmate 3.0 and/or Warmate 2 loitering munitions, together with the FlyEye and FT-5 Łoś multi-role reconnaissance platforms capable of identification, location, and jamming of electronic sensors and radars.^[2][7]

Operators

Current operators

•  NATO – unspecified NATO member.^[8]
•  Poland – at least 10 systems with 100 units delivered to the NIL commando unit (part of the Polish Special Forces) and then the Territorial Defence Force with also thousands in use with the other branches of the Polish armed forces.
•  Ukraine – Ukraine has received several units of the Warmate drones as part of Poland's military assistance in the wake of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. This includes both the inter-government arms transfers and private fundraisers.^[9] Similar private fundraisers had been organized in other countries such as Lithuania, to support Ukraine in the ongoing conflict.^[5]
•  United Arab Emirates^[10][11] – including Warmate 2.^[12]
•  Turkey^[10][11][12]
•  India – 100 units.^[13]
•  Georgia – produced domestically by Delta-WB LTD joint venture.^[14][15]
•  Libya – acquired by the United Arab Emirates for the Libyan National Army in 2020.^[16]
• Unspecified Middle-Eastern operator.^[17]

Future operators

•  South Korea – Ten sets with nearly two hundred Warmate 3 strike systems in combat and training variants were ordered.^[18] The first batch will be delivered to the drone operations command of the ROK Armed Forces in December 2024.^[19]

Specifications

Warmate

• Length: 1.1 metres (3 ft 7 in)
• Wingspan: ~ 1.6 m (5 ft 3 in)
• Empty weight: 4 kilograms (8.8 lb)
• Payload weight: 1.4 kilograms (3.1 lb)
• Max take-off weight: 5.7 kilograms (12.6 lb)
• Cruise airspeed: 80 km/h (50 mph; 43 kn)^[1]
• Max horizontal speed: 120 km/h (75 mph; 65 kn)^[20]
• Max attack airspeed: 150 km/h (93 mph; 81 kn)
• Range: 30 kilometres (19 mi; 16 nmi)
• Endurance: 60 minutes
• Cruise altitude: 150 to 300 metres (500 to 1,000 ft) AGL
• Flight ceiling: 3,000 m (9,800 ft) AMSL
• Warhead: Training, HE-FRAG with 300g of TNT or HEAT (penetration 200–240mm against RHA)
• CEP: 1.5m
• Propulsion: Electric motor

Flight modes

• AUTO: follows a pre-programmed route.^[20]
• HOLD: orbits a point over the ground.
• FLY TO: fly to the selected point with a stable altitude.
• CRUISE: keep a particular altitude and flight direction, semi-manual control supported by autopilot in the camera direction.
• SEARCH: slow diving flight necessary for proper target selection.^[21]
• ATTACK: initiates the strike. The automated video tracker allows for a precise target hit even after the loss of communication.

Warmate R

• Range: 15 km (9.3 mi)^[4]
• Endurance: 80 minutes
• Weight: 5.2 kilograms (11 lb)
• Operation ceiling: 500 m (1,600 ft)