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Poland’s WB Group is stepping up its India strategy, with plans for local manufacturing and partnerships with Indian defence companies as it seeks to expand its presence in unmanned systems, battlefield electronics and network-centric warfare.
The company has established WB Electronics India in New Delhi and is pursuing opportunities in the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor (UPDIC). It also plans to participate in Aero India 2027, where it is expected to showcase unmanned systems, loitering munitions, communications and battlefield-management technologies.
“Our strategy in India is very much linked to Indianisation and Make in India. We are flexible in adapting our systems to specific requirements from India,” a WB Group spokesperson said.
A key element of the strategy is a plan to establish a production line for the Warmate Tube-Launched (TL) loitering munition in the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor.
The Warmate family combines surveillance and precision-strike functions and can carry electro-optical and thermal imaging payloads. WB Group is pitching the system as part of a broader unmanned and networked battlefield architecture.
“We are not only interested in the platform itself. Our focus is on electronics, integration and the complete system,” the spokesperson said.
The company is seeking to identify components that can be sourced locally while retaining control over the overall architecture of its systems.
“The whole architecture is ours, so we can redesign the system, including with local content, if required,” the spokesperson said.
WB Group is also looking at replacing foreign components with locally available alternatives where they meet required performance standards.
“Sometimes there is no need to use the most sophisticated component. If another component provides sufficient performance, we can adapt the system around it,” the spokesperson said.
The company is also offering the Indian market its FlyEye tactical unmanned aerial system, designed primarily for reconnaissance and surveillance. The system can carry electro-optical and thermal sensors and provide battlefield information to commanders.
“We have different types of unmanned systems. Some are for reconnaissance, while others are designed for strike. The important thing is how these systems work together,” the spokesperson said.
WB Group’s network-centric approach centres on TOPAZ, its integrated battlefield-management and fire-control system, which is designed to bring together information from different battlefield elements and support command and fire-control functions.
“We can integrate different land and aerial systems and make them work together. The reconnaissance operator can provide information to the strike system and support the engagement process,” the spokesperson said.
Its wider portfolio includes FONET digital communications for military vehicles, as well as command-and-control, secure communications, fire control, electronic warfare and cybersecurity technologies.
The company is also developing unmanned platforms with different communications arrangements and payloads, including electro-optical and thermal sensors. It has developed glider-type unmanned platforms using electric propulsion primarily during launch and altitude changes, allowing the aircraft to conserve energy during portions of flight.
WB Group is developing concepts involving multiple unmanned platforms exchanging information and operating as a coordinated system, with the objective of allowing a single operator to manage several platforms.
The company has also entered into cooperation with Larsen & Toubro for autonomous unmanned aerial systems, with artificial intelligence expected to play an increasing role in this area.
WB Group’s participation in Aero India 2027 will provide another opportunity to present its India strategy.
“We are very flexible when it comes to Indian requirements. If there is an interesting requirement or an opportunity for cooperation, we are open to it,” the spokesperson said.
