Italy’s Leonardo and Poland’s WB Group have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to jointly develop new capabilities and promote business opportunities for tactical uncrewed aerial systems (UASs), including artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled attritable UASs, swarming operations and loitering munitions.
The MoU was signed on 5 September 2024 during the 32nd International Defence Industry Exhibition (MSPO 2024), held in Kielce, Poland, from 3 to 6 September.
WB Group and Leonardo intend to seek business opportunities in Poland and export markets in the areas of light and medium tactical uncrewed reconnaissance and strike systems. The signed MoU will allow the entities to undertake joint initiatives in the area of industrial co-operation, based on autonomous air platforms, systems integrated with AI and other advanced solutions that meet the needs of the modern and evolving battlefield.
The co-operation is to be based on the use of knowledge, competences and experience of the WB Group and Leonardo in the development of specialist military electronics, reconnaissance capabilities and strike systems capable of operating in an integrated combat environment allowing for multi-domain operations. Joint initiatives are to be based on the established presence of partner entities in Poland within the framework of the WB Group’s activities and through Leonardo Poland.
“The evolving landscape of defence and security requires an innovative defence industry, which is essential for enhancing Europe’s defence capabilities and overall security,” Lorenzo Mariani, co-general manager of Leonardo, was quoted as saying in a company press release. “The evolution of our capabilities portfolio is driven by disruptive innovation and speed-to-field of defence and security technological breakthroughs, in line with our Industrial Plan, and uncrewed systems and technologies are integral to this effort. We believe our synergies could create ‘affordable mass’ and new capabilities to our customers to tackle emerging needs in the integrated multi-domain battlefield with increased situational awareness and operational effectiveness. This collaboration also further confirms our commitment to Poland in terms of defence and security capabilities and industrial growth.”
“The agreement signed today will allow WB Group and Leonardo to conduct an analysis of how both entities can combine their complementary capabilities and experience in the areas of uncrewed systems and artificial intelligence,” added Piotr Wojciechowski, president of WB Group.
“The aim is to develop advanced and effective light and medium tactical reconnaissance platforms and low-cost strike solutions,” he added. “The new systems will be able to be used for a wide range of applications in environments with strong impact of electronic warfare means, in areas with disrupted or falsified GPS signals, in accordance with operational needs.”
WB Group employs more than 2,000 people. The company, which has the Polish Development Fund as a shareholder, operates globally in the markets for C4I systems, crisis management, public safety, transport, power electronics and defence. It is one of the largest producers of UASs, tactical software-defined radios, and remote-controlled weapon turrets. In addition to its 20 companies in Poland, WB Group also has offices, companies and branches in Georgia, India, Malaysia, Ukraine and the United States.
