Polish defense company WB GROUP has presented a new kamikaze drone labeled Warmate 50 as part of their exposition at the MSPO 2024 expo currently taking place in Kielce. The new drone, still in development, is not just large, it also has interesting capabilities making it the first type of a truly long-range loitering munition created in Poland.
According to the details disclosed by the company, Warmate 50 will be able to strike targets at distances reaching "hundreds of kilometers away" from the launch point, Defence24 notes, adding that the warhead weighs 50 kilograms.
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Apparently, the manufacturer is still working on the final design of this long-range suicide drone. For example, the article doesn't specify the type of engine used, just mentions it will be an "internal combustion engine," and not even an estimate of the travel speed or range is provided.
The authors also mention in general terms that, unlike previous models, the Warmate 50 has only one type of payload — explosive — adopting an approach to "maximize combat effectiveness at the expense of the flexibility of surveillance functions. It is therefore an unmanned aerial vehicle designed exclusively for strike missions."
What this kind of optimization often means in practice is that Warmate 50 will be optimized for strikes on stationary targets at long distances. While navigating toward predetermined coordinates, it will utilize own guidance systems, and there will be no way of controlling or adjusting the flight remotely.
The development of Warmate 50 was based on the earlier model, the Warmate 20. The latter has a smaller 20-kilogram warhead and it was presented in May 2024.
The Warmate 50 will give the Polish Armed Forces greater operational capabilities for striking strategically important targets in enemy rear, for instance, it is said to be able to reach Moscow if needed.
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