Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/1446249
WB GROUP W2MPIR was the flagship solution presented by the WB Group. The Multi- Layered A2AD Penetration System/ Aerial Smart Swarm System W2MPIR is a low-cost solution that utilizes advanced and effective battlefield assets that are already mass-produced. Several types of UAVs form the core of the W2MPIR solution: multi-role, multi-spectral FlyEye, and FT-5 Łoś UAVs, Warmate 1 3.0 and Warmate 2 loitering munitions with an integrated communications system (following the Silent Network concept for instance), controlled via an FMS (based on the TOPAZ BMS solution, and working with JTACs, via the U-GATE system). The ranges of the individual systems (excluding relay and SATCOM capabilities, depending on the terrain) have been specified as follows: FT-5 ‒ 150÷180 km (flight endurance, depending on the variant, 4 to 14 hours), FlyEye ‒ 30÷80 km, Warmate 1 ‒ ca. 60 km (flight endurance up to 70 minutes), Warmate 2 – up to 240 km. Thus, the system offers a complete tactical and partially operational coverage of the enemy forces. The cost-effectiveness of this solution can be further enhanced by a unique concept of using simple and cheap air platforms unified with loitering munitions, to gather ELINT. Carrying EM sensors covering a broad spectrum of frequencies, instead of warheads, platforms as such may effectively deliver intel on the enemy EM environment, including radars, active jamming systems, communications suite, remaining undetected. The WB Group has developed several prototypes of simple detection systems that have a reasonable price of 300 to 500 USD. The very same platforms may also carry radar reflectors, simulating targets of greater RCS, thus making the lives of the enemy radar operators far more difficult. A major emphasis has been placed on the effectiveness of the system in an environment where a plethora of EW assets is used. The above solutions are largely based on the experience gathered through analysis of the use of the WB Group's equipment during the conflict in Ukraine. On one hand, the proliferation of electronic countermeasures (GPS signal spoofing and datalink jamming, detection of land- based emitters of control stations, and so on) promotes platform autonomy and stealthy designs. On the other hand, though, any signs of the enemy electronic activities, including operation of high power radars and jamming systems, disclose their location, thus making them vulnerable to loitering munition strikes. The tests carried out with the use of systems designed to analyze the EM spectrum (not low- cost ones), installed on the FT-5 Łoś platforms, have shown that when flying at an altitude of 3,000 meters the system may easily detect radars at a distance of 500 km and beyond. The WB Group's representatives emphasize the simplicity of the direct control of the system, thanks to the unification of the control panels and datalinks for FlyEye, Warmate 1, and Warmate 2 systems. The control over all of the above platforms may be executed with the use of a single ground control station. This unification in the platform's system domain also applies to the latest 3.0 variants of FlyEye and Warmate UAVs. www.fragoutmag.com