WB Electronics Warmate

Polish loitering munition

Warmate

Type| Loitering munition
Place of origin| Poland
Service history
Used by| NATO, Polish Armed Forces, Armed Forces of Ukraine, United Arab Emirates Armed Forces, Indian Armed Forces, Defence Forces of Georgia, Libyan National Army (from UAE), unspecified Middle-Eastern customer
Wars| Russian invasion of Ukraine
Production history
Manufacturer| WB Electronics
Unit cost| $26,459.93 in 2017 (equivalent to $31,590 in 2022)
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

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]

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

## Variants[edit]

### Warmate-R[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

* 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,
* 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,[citation needed]
* India – 100 units,[10]
* Georgia – produced domestically,
* Libya – acquired by the United Arab Emirates for the Libyan National Army in 2020,[11]
* Unspecified Middle-Eastern operator.[12]

## Specifications[edit]

### Warmate[edit]

* 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)[13]
* 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.[13]
* 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.[14]
* ATTACK: initiates the strike. The automated video tracker allows for a precise target hit even after the loss of communication.

### Warmate R[edit]

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

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c "WARMATE loitering munitions". Archived from the original on 2022-07-20.
2. ^ a b c d e f g h "WB Group's Smart Swarm: Against the A2/AD Systems". defence24.com (in Polish). 2021-08-16. Retrieved 2024-01-18.
3. ^ Glowacki, Bartosz (28 April 2016). "Warmate expendable UAV in production for two customers". flightglobal.com. DVV Media Group. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
4. ^ a b "WARMATE R Loitering Reconnaissance System". Archived from the original on 2022-06-27.
5. ^ a b c d "Lithuania to hand over Warmate kamikaze drones to Ukraine in October-November". Militarnyi. 2022-09-21. Retrieved 2024-01-18.
6. ^ a b c d "Loitering Munitions System / WARMATE 2" (PDF). WB Group. 2018-09-03. pp. 2–3. Retrieved 2024-01-18.
7. ^ a b "SWARM System". WB GROUP. Retrieved 2024-01-18.
8. ^ [1], MilMag, 2017
9. ^ "Polacy kupili bojowe drony dla Ukrainy" [The Polish had bought combat drones for Ukraine]. defence24.pl (in Polish). Defence24. 2023-05-16. Retrieved 2024-01-18.
10. ^ "Polska amunicja krążąca "zdobywa" Indie". 20 June 2022.
11. ^ Mitzer, Stijn; Oliemans, Joost (23 March 2021). "Tracking Arms Transfers By The UAE, Russia, Jordan And Egypt To The Libyan National Army Since 2014". Oryx Blog.
12. ^ [2], Altair, 2020
13. ^ a b "WARMATE Loitering Munitions System" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-07-20.
14. ^ "Warmate TL". Archived from the original on 2022-07-20.

* http://www.defence24.com/358359,warmate-polish-loitering-munition-two-export-agreements-have-been-already-signed
* (in Polish) Mariusz Cielma, Warmate - nowy powietrzny środek wsparcia ogniowego, „Nowa Technika Wojskowa”, nr 5 (2016), s. 92–95, ISSN 1230-1655.
* (in Polish) Bartosz Głowacki, Uniwersalny towarzysz broni, „Rapot”, nr 5 (2016), s. 24–28, ISSN 1429-270X.
* (in English) Manufacturer's webpage

## External links[edit]

* Warmate WB Group website

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