BENGALURU/NEW DELHI: Poland’s largest private defence technology firm, WB Group, showcased its battle-tested Warmate Tube-Launched (TL) Loitering Munition System for the first time at Aero India 2025.
In a significant move, the company, through its Indian subsidiary WB Electronics India Pvt Ltd, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with an Indian firm. Under this agreement, WB India plans to establish a production line in the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor (UPDIC), reinforcing its commitment to India’s defence sector.
As demand for autonomous unmanned aerial systems (UAS) grows in military and security operations, WB India will focus on decentralised collaborative autonomy—an emerging technology enabling multiple drones to operate in coordination with minimal human intervention.
Speaking about the collaboration, Ashish Sharma, CEO of WB Electronics India, said, "At WB India, we take immense pride in the innovative technologies we bring to India’s defence sector. This partnership is expected to drive next-generation autonomous solutions tailored for India's military reconnaissance, surveillance, and operational needs."
India’s security forces are investing heavily in drone technology as part of a modernisation push, with the unmanned systems market projected to grow exponentially over the next decade.
The Warmate TL Loitering Munition, originally developed as a cost-effective alternative to traditional guided missiles, has emerged as a versatile, precision-strike solution. The company stated, "Designed for rapid deployment and high survivability in contested environments, the system integrates anti-personnel and anti-tank warheads, offering commanders the ability to tailor strikes to evolving battlefield conditions."
The Warmate TL features a canister-based pneumatic launch system, allowing integration across land vehicles, naval vessels, and aerial platforms. Once deployed, its folding wings extend mid-flight, enabling it to loiter over a target area with pinpoint accuracy before executing an attack.
"Equipped with daylight and infrared cameras, the Warmate TL can perform real-time reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition, feeding live intelligence back to operators. The fully automated attack capability allows for engagement even in GPS-denied environments, reducing reliance on traditional targeting infrastructure," the company added.
Unlike conventional missiles that rely on high-speed kinetic strikes, Warmate’s silent propulsion system minimises detectability, making it particularly effective in urban and counter-insurgency operations. Its ability to loiter before executing a strike provides critical flexibility in dynamic combat scenarios where targets may move or change rapidly.
A version of the Warmate loitering munition has already been deployed by the Indian Army under Emergency Procurement measures, reflecting its battlefield efficacy and rapid operationalisation.
Colonel Sandeep Malik (Retd), Vice President of WB Electronics India, highlighted its combat performance: "The Warmate loitering munition has already demonstrated its effectiveness in real-world combat scenarios. With its advanced targeting systems, low acoustic signature, and modular payload capability, it is well-suited for modern warfare, particularly in high-threat environments, especially in an intense electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) environment."
India’s interest in loitering munitions has intensified in recent years, driven by lessons from global conflicts and the need for greater operational agility in both conventional and asymmetric warfare. Defence experts suggest that the induction of loitering munitions into India's military doctrine aligns with the country’s modernisation roadmap, providing stand-off engagement capabilities, enhanced situational awareness, and rapid target neutralisation.
Beyond individual systems, WB Group’s participation in Aero India 2025 marks a broader strategic shift towards India. Through its joint venture, WB Electronics India Pvt Ltd, the company is making significant investments in the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor, reinforcing its commitment to local production, technology transfer, and long-term engagement with India’s defence ecosystem.
"As India pursues a self-reliant defence sector under Atma Nirbhar Bharat, we see tremendous opportunities to collaborate with Indian defence forces and industry," said Ashish Sharma.
The ongoing conflicts between Israel and Hamas, Russia and Ukraine, as well as Armenia and Azerbaijan, have highlighted the effectiveness of loitering munitions in modern warfare. Unlike traditional cruise missiles or armed drones, these munitions offer cost-effective precision engagement, making them an attractive option for countries seeking force multipliers in budget-constrained scenarios.