Artillery-tied Gladius UAV system heads to the training ground

The aforementioned 1st Artillery Brigade was the second unit to begin receiving components of the Gladius reconnaissance‑strike system, starting last autumn. In mid‑July, via its Facebook account, the brigade announced the relocation of its Gladius battery to the Orzysz training ground for live‑fire exercises using the system. A video of this deployment was posted below.    

The Gladius system enables soldiers to carry out patrol and reconnaissance missions using the FT‑5 Łoś unmanned aerial vehicle, and, upon detecting a target, to eliminate it with the BSP‑U strike drone. By fitting the FT‑5 airframe with appropriate payloads, it can also be adapted for SAR (Search and Rescue) and ELINT (Electronic Intelligence) roles. These variants differ not only in mission profile but also in propulsion, hybrid for SAR and electric for ELINT correspondingly.

Data gathered by the Gladius system are collected and relayed via the Topaz Integrated Combat Management System, which can share information not only within the Gladius battery but also with other units, such as tube artillery and rocket forces. This interoperability achieves a critical synergy effect within the Rocket Forces and Artillery.

It is worth noting that the contract for the purchase of four battery fire modules (BFMs) of the Gladius system was signed in May 2022. For the Rocket Forces and Artillery, this is one of the most significant contracts in recent years. Deliveries of the first sets to the 18th Artillery Brigade took place at the end of 2022. Final assembly was completed in December 2024, and the first live‑fire exercise occurred in May. The third battery fire module is currently being delivered to the Polish Armed Forces, with the fourth set scheduled for handover next year.    

Each Gladius battery fire module includes: A reconnaissance UAV platoon (three command vehicles, three launcher vehicles, and three ammunition trucks), two BSP‑U strike drone platoons (one command vehicle, four launcher vehicles, and two ammunition trucks each), along with one technical support vehicle, and one mobile analysis station. All elements are coordinated by the battery‑module command vehicle. The light tactical vehicle Waran serves as the chassis for both the command and launcher vehicles. Ammunition trucks are based on the Jelcz P882.57 chassis, while the mobile analysis station and technical support vehicle use the Jelcz P662D.35.

The strike range of the BSP‑U strike drone is 100 km, while the FT‑5 Łoś reconnaissance drone can remain airborne for approximately 10 hours and reach a maximum altitude of 5 000 m. These capabilities will be further enhanced by planned upgrades to the Gladius system. Infrastructure developed for today’s BSP‑U will also be used in the in‑development Gladius 2 set.