Polish industry is making strides in positioning itself as a leading developer and supplier of ground defence equipment with counter drone being a particular focus.
The Tarnów Mechanical Works ground counter drone solution developed in collaboration with the Military University of Technology is intended to offer an effective yet relatively low-cost solution to the small drone and unmanned aerial system (UAS). The system is designed for remote operation either as a stationary towed system, on a vessel or mounted on a vehicle for mobility.
It consists of a .50 calibre four-barrel gatling type WLKM 12.7 mm (.50 calibre) weapon with electrically powered traverse and elevation. Fire controls include top mounted electro-optic sights with either/both high-resolution day TV and/or thermal imaging video, a laser rangefinder and digital ballistic computation.
The weapon is able to accept target detection data from a separate independent surveillance and tracking radar with fifteen-kilometre range. The weapon has a maximum effective range of 2000 meters and rate of fire controlled at between fifty and two-hundred round-per-minute.
Three modes of operation can be offered fully automatic in which the system acquires, tracks and engages entirely on its own once provided a target, semi-automatic which provided auto-track assistance to the operator, and fully manual tracking and firing by the operator.
Field evaluations have indicated that “automatic” has displayed the most effective use of the system especially against small drones. Once the operator initiates clearance to engage, the weapon system itself conducts the entire hard-kill process.
The system has a number of advantages in the adaptability of the system provided for the simplicity and flexibility of using the system, that be easily towed to a firing position to defend a fixed site. It has also been integrated on to a vehicle, in one case on Huta Stalowa Wola’s Waran wheeled armoured personnel carrier, although others are clearly possible.
In addition, .50 ammunition utilized is widely available and with well-established lethality against not only aerial targets but ground threats as well. The electrically powered gatling weapon also is a proven reliable approach.
Its combination of existing proven and readily available technologies, components, and effectors offers a straightforward, affordable, and reliably effective solution that can be fielded in sufficient numbers in addressing the unmanned drone threats.
The system official name is System Zwalczania Dronów (Drone Countermeasures System) but it has been referred to in some media as the “Monster”.
The concept began development in 2018 with hardware live-fire testing at the Central Air Force Training Ground in Ustka in late 2021. Further testing occurred in early 2022 with company officials confirming the existence and progress of the development.
The systems recent public display at MSPO 2024 is understood to have sparked interest from a number of potential military users.
Company representatives have indicated that the weapon system is being readied for production.
by Stephen W. Miller
