Three Polish Partners Join to Build Unmanned Counter-Drone Aircraft

Three Polish organizations have formed a strategic consortium to build what they claim is Europe's first unmanned fighter aircraft designed to combat the growing threat of drones, drone swarms and loitering munitions on the modern battlefield.

The industry partners — trade company MBF Group S.A., consulting firm Squadron Sp. z o.o. and the technology-focused nonprofit Polish Industrial Lobby — launched the IRYDA Plus project on Sept. 15 to craft a pilotless platform able to neutralize any drone in a cost-effective manner.

The wars of the last decade, especially the war in Ukraine and conflicts in various parts of the world, have shown that drones have become an essential tool of the modern battlefield. Swarm attacks, low-budget designs and the ability to carry armaments, and resistance to interference are making classic air defense systems inadequate. The answer to these challenges is the IRYDA+ project, a Polish concept for an unmanned fighter aircraft designed to effectively combat drones, their swarms and circulating munitions, which is a component of the anti-drone system.

Theory and Assumptions

The essence of IRYDY+ is to create an unmanned platform capable of neutralizing any drone – from mini to tactical drones and cruise munitions. The technical assumptions include:

• top/chase speed: 250-280 km/h,
• cruising/patrol speed: 180-200 km/h,
• minimum speed: 50-60 km/h,
• flight duration: 8-10 hours,
• payload capacity: 15-20 kg,
• Armament: carbine cal. 7.62 mm, in a 360° rotating gondola,
• TAS (Target-Aim-Shot) system supported by artificial intelligence.

This combination of the traditional way of air combat with modern automation makes it possible to create a system that is cost-effective, yet extremely efficient.

Contemporary Theaters of Action

The conflict in Ukraine has shown that effective air defense requires flexible and mobile solutions. IRYDA PLUS will find use in border protection, securing critical infrastructure, protecting command posts and communications nodes, as well as in UN peacekeeping missions. The project meets the needs not only of the army, but also of security services and international organizations.

New Economics of Air Combat

One of the most important strengths of the IRYDA+ project is its economy. Today, missiles costing more than $1 million per unit are often used to shoot down a low-cost drone worth a few thousand dollars. Sometimes combat aircraft such as F-16s and F-35s are pitted against imitation drones, generating huge operational and logistical costs and accident risks for pilots. IRYDA PLUS changes this logic – instead of straining budgets and consuming strategic resources, it offers a solution that is fast, efficient and, above all, many times cheaper to operate. This is an argument that makes the project attractive not only to the military, but also to taxpayers and policymakers.

First steps – Conceptual Model

The project was first presented at MSPO in Kielce in 2023. The trade show mock-up generated a lot of interest and confirmed the potential of the concept. In 2024, it was presented at MSPO to Ukrainian delegates and confirmed its need for existence. Since then, development has accelerated – from tactical studies, simulations, preliminary design, to the final selection of weapons and creation of a conceptual design.

Project Milestones

The development of IRYDY PLUS provides for several stages of implementation (Work Packages):

• WP1: design and construction of a shooting device with a mockup of a carbine,
• WP2: integration of gondola with control station and computer simulation (3 combat scenarios),
• WP3: design and construction of a mock-up airframe with the nacelle installed,
• WP4: design and construction of a transportation container.

Each stage culminates in a milestone – from the finished nacelle, to simulations, to a full model of the airframe.

Squadron Agreement

In September 2025. An agreement was signed between MBF Group SA and the company Squadron Sp. z o.o. (ASE Group). The document deals with the development and deployment of unmanned systems, including combat and anti-drone systems. They also agreed on all terms of non-denial, confidentiality and terms of cooperation for future planned projects.

Strategic Consortium

The IRYDA PLUS project is not an endeavor of a single institution, but a joint effort of three complementary entities that combine knowledge, experience and resources in a formally established consortium. They are formed by MBF Group SA, Squadron Sp. z o.o. (ASE Group) and Polish Industrial Lobby im. Eugeniusz Kwiatkowski (PLP).

• MBF Group SA serves as leader of the consortium. The company, which has been listed on the NewConnect market for more than a decade, has been consistently developing its business in the area of advanced technology and military systems, in addition to its experience in the raw materials and logistics sectors. MBF is responsible for the business side of the project – raising capital, investors and strategic coordination. Thanks to its presence on the public market, it ensures transparency of operations and full compliance with regulations for listed companies, which increases the credibility of the venture in the eyes of international partners and counterparties.
• Squadron Sp. z o.o., part of the ASE Group, brings key technical and operational competencies in unmanned aircraft and their integration systems to the consortium. It is a company of engineers and specialists drawn from the Polish Armed Forces, with an extensive track record in the design and testing of UAV platforms, communications systems and anti-drone technologies. Squadron is responsible for the technological side of the project, including the construction of demonstrators, systems integration and development of kinetic drone combat technology.
• Polish Industrial Lobby im. Eugeniusz Kwiatkowski (PLP). serves as an expert-scientific and opinion-making facility. The organization has been integrating the industrial, academic and defense communities in Poland for years, conducting numerous conferences and analytical work on strategic industries. PLP is strengthening the project through access to a pool of scientists, experts and lobbyists, as well as through promotion among policy and economic decision makers. It is headed by Prof. Paweł Soroka, Ph.D., who has been shaping the discourse around the Polish defense industry and the concept of national industry development for many years, among others. As part of the Central Industrial District 2 (COP2) idea.

The synergy of these three entities makes the IRYDA PLUS consortium holistic – combining practical military experience, technical and engineering background, scientific competence and market credibility. This ensures that the project not only has a solid conceptual foundation, but also a viable ability to be implemented, scaled and commercialized in domestic and international markets.

Schedule of Activities

• Year 1: construction of a demonstrator and ground testing of the shooting system,
• Year 2-3: integration with the aerial platform and flight tests,
• Milestone: first unit capable of viable operations in 2-3 years.

Summary

RYDA PLUS is Poland’s answer to global drone challenges. The project combines innovation, military experience and business logic. With MBF Group, Squadron and PLP working together, it has a real chance of implementation and commercialization. It is a solution that can change the rules of the game on the modern battlefield and become an important element in the security of Poland, Europe and the world.

Sources: MBF Group; National Defense