The WB group mainly associated with unmanned aircraft this time amazed the fresh structure. StormRider is an unmanned submarine reconnaissance and impact unit. It was created mainly for patrol missions, naval base security, or peculiar operations. Although it is primarily a drone, it can besides operate with the crew. The prototype has already been tested on the Baltic.
New proposal WB Groups It is part of the company's "multi-volume revolution" which is intended to make a coherent strategy of unmanned craft cooperating in the air, land and water. It is to respond not only to the military's signal, but besides to the Border Guard's request for unmanned vehicles with a wide scope of applications in the marine environment. – At 1 time we amazed everyone, showing Gladius system. It is simply a search and impact strategy that works for artillery on land, and its success inspired us to look for solutions that could be specified a “Gladius sea”. This is how StormRider's concept was created," explains Remigius Wilk, manager of communication in the WB Group.
Waves don't scare him.
The drone is driven by a strategy connecting the interior combustion engine to the truss-water propulsion system. These parameters are not accidental – the unit was created for demanding Baltic waters. It is simply a dangerous sea, frequently with strong winds. Our drone will not manage in all conditions, but we plan it so that the scope of possibilities is as wide as possible," says Remigius Wilk. StormRider can operate safely erstwhile the sea state is 3 on the Beaufort scale. He's already passed the first tests on the Baltic waves.
The drone drive is besides strategic. – It can be replaced for the propulsion of civilian units. In the event of a conflict, if we were cut off from the supply of parts, we could usage a wide base of civilian solutions and keep the strategy constantly ready – said Wilk. StormRider has a navigational radar, sonar, and echoprobe on board, providing control even in hard conditions. The key component of the reflection strategy is an advanced optoelectronic head with a daily, thermal and laser camera, enabling detection and tracking of objects both on the surface and underwater. The full was integrated into the proprietary systems of the WB Group liable for control, communication and data transmission.
StormRider, however, is not just a reconnaissance platform. Equipped with a marine distant weapons module ZMU-05N with a large caliber device weapon was first presented publically at the global Defence manufacture Salon. The drone besides has WARMATE TL air launchers. specified a set allows not only to observe targets from a long distance, but besides to destruct them effectively, without the request to affect the personnel.
Drone, but with crew
The construction of the WB Group is besides distinguished by the versatility of operating modes. It can function full remotely, semi-automatically and, if necessary, as a manned unit. This solution is crucial due to the fact that regulations do not let unmanned operations everywhere.
StormRider can act alone or in cooperation with ship forces, supporting them in conducting reconnaissance, patrolling and protecting strategical waters. As the maker assures, it will work not only in the Navy or peculiar Forces, but besides in the Border Guard. With comparatively tiny size StormRider could besides be equipped with frigates.
Its tasks include the protection of red, ports, anchorages and maritime critical infrastructure. It can besides be utilized for adversaries and in support of Force Protection operations.
How effective is it as a strike drone? Everything depends on the kind of warhead. StormRider can carry cargo weighing between 50 and 100 kg. It full destroys a smaller unit. For the larger ones, cooperation will be essential during the mission, for example with land launchers," says Remigius Wilk.
The cooperation between StormRider and another WB Group products is part of a wider concept of an unmanned multi-domain battlefield. It assumes that drones operating on both land, water, air and cyberspace will make an integrated strategy combined with advanced communication and command systems. Unmanned platforms are besides to work with vehicles, aircraft and manned ships.
