Rather unusual drone called Kaczka was unveiled at the MSPO 2025 exhibition. It was developed at the Military Institute of Land Forces.
However, it's worth noting that despite its name, Kaczka (duck in Polish), a swan decoy is mounted on top of it. The drone is intended for covert reconnaissance and surprise strikes.
Read more: Poland to Receive Biggest Share of €150 Billion EU Defense Fund, Ukraine Will Gain as Well
Reports say it has a control range of up to 5 km, though it can also operate autonomously. Looking at its construction, the drone is essentially a large box housing almost all of its systems, with a swan decoy placed on top. A camera is installed in the head of the decoy.
The Kaczka can carry up to 10 kg of payload. As one would expect from a duck or swan, it can float on water, but it also has several small wheels underneath. This suggests it is meant to be an amphibious drone, although given the small size of those wheels, its off-road capability is questionable.
Overall, aside from its odd appearance, it has a strange and highly situational purpose. In natural surroundings, it is likely to stand out and draw attention.
From a distance, it might be mistaken for a real swan, but up close, the Kaczka has little chance of being convincing.
It is also important to consider that its cost will inevitably be higher than a standard FPV drone or another quadcopter, which have a much greater operating range and are far more suitable for covert reconnaissance or surprise strikes. For that reason, the practical use of this system remains doubtful.
That said, the Polish solution can certainly provoke a wide range of reactions. But it should be noted that one of the directions in the development of reconnaissance UAVs, especially for special operations, is disguising them as birds. Of course, this can be done in a much more sophisticated way, as in China.
A video of such a bird-like ornithopter, capable of fully replicating bird flight, was released a year ago, while more recent Chinese projects have included micro-drones the size of insects.
Read more: Ukraine's Answer to UMPK: MiG-29 Spotted With a Domestic Glide Bomb
