► Grupa WB and Leonardo Sign MoU in the defence sector
Rome, 5 September 2024– During the XXXII International Defence Industry Exhibition in Kielce, GRUPA WB (the leading company of WB Electronics S.A.) and Leonardo signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) exploring capabilities and prospects within the defence sector. The partners intend to jointly develop new capabilities and promote business opportunities for tactical Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS), including AI-integrated attritable UAS, swarming operations and loitering munitions.
GRUPA WB 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 cooperation, based on autonomous air platforms, systems integrated with artificial intelligence and other advanced solutions that meet the needs of the modern and evolving battlefield. The cooperation 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 and strike systems capable of operating in an integrated combat environment, which allows 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,” said Lorenzo Mariani, Co-General Manager of Leonardo. “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 GRUPA WB 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. The aim is to develop advanced and effective light and medium tactical reconnaissance platforms and low-cost strike solutions,” said Piotr Wojciechowski, President of GRUPA WB. “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 signal, in accordance with operational needs,” added the President of GRUPA WB.
GRUPA WB is a Polish-based manufacturer of advanced solutions for the armed forces and uniformed services, employing over 2,000 people. The company, whose shareholder is the Polish Development Fund, operates globally in the market of C4I systems, crisis management, public safety, transport, power electronics and defence. It is one of the largest producers of aerial uncrewed systems, tactical software-defined radios, and remote-controlled weapon turrets. In addition to its twenty companies in Poland, the WB GROUP also has offices, companies and branches in Georgia, India, Malaysia, Ukraine and the United States.
