Poland acquires 25 Wizjer mini-UAVs
Wizjer is a low noise emission system with a flight time of more than three hours (photo – Polish MND)
The Polish MND has announced on 29 December the acquisition of 25 Wizjer mini-UAV systems to equip the Polish Army. The contract is worth PLN 174 million ($42 .9million) with the deliveries scheduled from 2024 to 2027.
With a design developed by the Air Force Institute of Technology in accordance with NATO standardisation agreements, the UAVs will be manufactured by a national consortium consisting of the Polish Armaments Group and the Military Aviation Works in Łódź and Bydgoszcz.
The agreement states that each of the 25 sets will include four aerial platforms with electro-optical EO/IR payloads, a ground control station, a data terminal and a portable video terminal.
According to a press release from the MND, Wizjer was designed to be used in ground and special forces operations in order to detect, recognise, identify and indicate targets’ coordinates.
It is a low noise emission system with a flight time of more than three hours and an operating range of up to 35 km. Wizjer takes off automatically with the use of a composite launch tube and lands with a parachute and an airbag.
Poland has also acquired six new small UAVs in 2021 under a PLN4.6 million ($1.19 million) deal between the MND and Asseco Poland.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
More from Land Warfare
-
Land forces review: howitzers in the spotlight and Germany spends big to close the year
December saw several milestones on the howitzer front with billions of dollars worth of orders placed and Germany committing to more 6×6 and 4×4 vehicles. Taiwan was also approved for equipment orders worth $11 billion even as the year came to an end with China encircling the country as part of an exercise.
-
Supply of new self-propelled guns is rising to meet looming demand
As the need for self-propelled artillery continues to climb across Europe and NATO-allied nations, orders for existing capabilities continue to roll in while new and improved weapons are on the way.
-
Elbit bets on local content for US howitzer bid as it faces off against popular systems
The Israeli company hopes that producing its Sigma artillery system wholly in the US will help it win a key US Army contract, but it will be up against the popular CAESAR Mk II wheeled weapon and the K9 tracked.
-
Germany orders 84 Boxer howitzers as UK commits to a single demonstrator
Germany has ordered 84 RCH 155 self-propelled guns, as system incorporating Boxer 8×8 vehicles and the Artillery Gun Module, and 200 Puma Infantry Fighting Vehicles while the UK has committed to a single Early Capability Demonstrator RCH 155.