Polish defense company WB Group has established serial production of FlyEye drones directly in Ukraine. The new facilities are set up at a plant that has been servicing Polish systems for the needs of the Ukrainian military for over ten years.
The launch was reported by the Military resource, citing the company’s press release. According to WB Group, the information about the launch had been kept secret for security reasons and due to the risk of attacks on defense infrastructure, and was only disclosed after the visit of the Polish ambassador to Ukraine, Piotr Łukaszewicz, to the plant.
FlyEye was one of the first Western drones to be delivered to the Armed Forces of Ukraine back in 2015. Initially, they were used in Donbas, and after Russia’s full-scale invasion, the drones have seen much wider deployment. Today, FlyEye is acquired both through government contracts and international aid, as well as volunteer fundraising.
The model was created in 2010 by WB Electronics’ subsidiary Flytronic. The Polish military were the first to adopt the drone. Its key feature is mobility: the 11-kg device can be carried by two soldiers, prepared for launch in about 10 minutes, and hand-launched.
The drone operates up to 50 km from the operator, with a flight duration of two to three hours. For reconnaissance, it is equipped with a GS4 optical station featuring both daylight and thermal imaging channels, capable of detecting and identifying targets up to 7 km away.
FlyEye features a high level of automation: the route, landing, and most basic maneuvers are executed by autopilot. The third generation introduced an automatic convoy mode, usable for tracking enemy forces or protecting friendly columns from ambushes.
WB Group is a leading provider of communication, control, and drone systems for NATO countries. In Ukraine, FlyEye has become a direct competitor to domestic tactical UAV developments while also serving as an important element in creating a shared technological front against Russia.
