Will a Polish Shaheds Killer Be Born?

The information covering the concept of the Polish counter-UAS missile was revealed during the first International Armament Congress, organized between 21st and 25th October in Krakow, by the Military Institute of Armament Technology (WITU) in cooperation with the Armament Technology Institute of WAT (Military University of Technology). This event is held under the honorary patronage of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, as well as the city of Krakow, with Defence24.pl serving as the media patron.

Topics discussed at the Congress include: “Kinetic and Non-Kinetic Strike Systems” and “Unmanned Weapon Platforms and Counter Systems.” A new solution connected to these topics is the “Low-Cost Anti-Drone Missile” presented in Krakow by WITU.

This is a missile concept with a price comparable to strike UAVs of the Shahed class. To meet this requirement, WITU proposed a missile with a diameter of 105 mm, a length of 1800 mm, a wingspan of 328 mm, and a launch weight of just 20 kg (with a warhead weighing 4.2 kg).

Although the new missile is designed to counter UAVs, it is not a typical anti-aircraft missile. It travels at an average speed of 200 m/s, with a maximum speed of 250 m/s. Its range is estimated at 0.5-15 km, with an altitude limit of 1500 m. The designers emphasize that the concept is specifically tailored for countering drones. The missile is designed to be low-cost, comparable to the strike systems it targets, and the system itself is intended to be effective against saturation attacks.

For now, WITU is seeking an industrial partner to help finalize the project and bring it into mass production, primarily for the Polish Armed Forces.