India strikes Pakistan using advanced Polish drones in pivotal raid
India conducted an airstrike on targets in Pakistan during the night of May 6 to May 7. Alongside its air force, India also used Polish Warmate drones in the operation.
India claims the airstrike successfully neutralized the infrastructure of terrorist groups. Pakistan, however, reports shooting down five Indian Air Force planes. It should be noted that photos and footage of the wreckage indicate the loss of at least two aircraft, while data from India mentions three aircraft. These may include Mirage 2000 and Rafale jets.
Additionally, the wreckage of Warmate drones was found in the Punjab province, suggesting their role in supplementing the airstrike. Some drones were found in pieces, but one intact drone was discovered and photographed. This aligns with India receiving a shipment of Warmate drones in 2022.
Warmate — a hit in Polish armaments
Warmate-3 drones represent the latest generation of loitering munition systems from Poland. They feature carbon fibre wings that reduce the structure's weight, allowing them to carry heavier combat warheads weighing up to 3 kilograms. Such payloads are currently popular among clients of the WB Group, the producer of these drones.
Warmate drones boast high autonomy due to advanced artificial intelligence algorithms, enabling them to attack targets protected by electronic warfare systems. Although improvised solutions also aim for such advancement, due to the lack of software standardization, results can vary, and fibre-optic control limits range and payload capacity.
Warmate is a lightweight drone weighing about 5.5 kilograms with a wingspan of 1.5 metres. It can stay airborne for 30 minutes. Powered by an electric motor and equipped with a composite fuselage and wings, its radar, thermal, and acoustic signatures are minimal. This makes it challenging for modern Russian anti-aircraft systems like the Pantsir-S1.
Effective weaponry from Poland
The maximum range of the Warmate drone is about 80 kilometres, but its effective operational range is limited to around 30 kilometres due to radio communication constraints. Its modular payload can include: a reconnaissance camera warhead, a fragmentation-explosive warhead comparable in power to an 82 mm mortar shell, a thermobaric warhead suitable for enclosed spaces, and an anti-tank shaped charge warhead.
The Polish drone can deliver its payload with an accuracy of less than 1.5 metres, which is its circular error probable, and it can reach a speed of 150 km/h during the attack phase. Additionally, these drones can form swarms for coordinated attacks on a target from different directions.
