Military builds drones

These are the assumptions of the programme. Dronlabs are made for enthusiasts who already have any cognition and skills in the field of drones or 3D printing and want to proceed to make in this direction. I'm sorry. Balcerowska emphasises that the pilot programme involves both individuals in which specified technologies are already utilized to an advanced degree (e.g. peculiar troops) and soldiers who had previously dealt with drones and 3D printing mostly privately. “The exchange of experience, pointing out the starting direction of more advanced colleagues is an crucial foundation of the full project,” emphasises the officer from the IWBSU.

Comprehensive course

The dronlab activities under the IWBSU-supervised programme formally began in early January 2026. However, this does not mean that earlier there were no akin initiatives in the Polish Army. plan and usage of tiny drones For example, soldiers of the 1st Warsaw Armored Brigade under the name “Vespa” are engaged, a fewer months ago 15 Giżycka Brigade Mechanized announced the creation of its own o‘Spirit’ training measure. However, the drones from the pilot IWBSU programme are the first permanent teams to warrant them support and improvement opportunities at a completely different level. Each squad has jobs for respective soldiers who can train at the Military method Academy. “As part of the program, a comprehensive drone production course was created there,” explains the colonel of nawig. Balcerowska. The first edition of the six-week training ended on 19 December 2025, and 3 more will be organised this year. Although they were created for the needs of staff of working dronlabs, another soldiers may besides be directed at them in the future.

– I powerfully urge the course to all who are curious in designing drones – says the sergeant. Radosław Fiuk of the 19th Lublin Mechanized Brigade of Gen. Dyw. Franciszek Kleeberg, who thanks to the creation of a dronlab in the unit can realize and make his long-standing passion for 3D printing. – WAT personnel in a professional way presented all issues: the construction of FPV drones, technological development, design, 3D printing, folding, flight. specified a course is very valuable even for people who already have any cognition and skills – the sergeant evaluates. Fiuk, associate in the first edition. At the training he met another enthusiasts and experts with whom he can exchange experiences today. “The group of participants at my course was diverse, but nobody was there by accident,” the Petty Officer emphasizes.

From plan to flight

Although in 19 BZ dronlab has been formally active since January, the unit has already worked on various projects. The Kleebers themselves design, print and construct multi-virtrators of different sizes (5-, 7-, 10-inch frames) that can service as reflection or impact drones (so-called. kamikaze drones). 3D printing enables not only the manufacture of frames, but besides atrap loads, discharge systems, additional components for antenna fixing, battery baskets, etc.

– The technology of incremental printing gives us large opportunities. This is simply a fast and inexpensive method of creating proven designs or investigating prototypes. It takes 2 to 3 hours to print a tiny frame, so checking different solutions is neither time-consuming nor costs-intensive, says the sergeant. Dick. Another option is working on a milling machine, metalworking or utilizing carbon fiber, but it is simply a much more costly and more complicated process – besides in terms of logistics and supply.

Kleebers point out that 3D printing has immense advantages, due to the fact that as they say, they can make anything that fits in the printer. However, defects in the plastic structure cannot be overlooked. This material is not always suitable for larger BSPs, which, apart from engines and batteries, gotta carry a combat charge. The solution in this case may be to usage plywood frame, which retains rigidity better than printed frame, and is respective twelve times cheaper than carbon fibre structure. The dronlab crew in 19 BZ has already developed a plan of specified a wooden BSP and is constantly looking for fresh solutions. Outside developing proven technologies Kleebers consider, among others, the usage of fibre optics in BSP or popular in Ukraine.

The creation of microdrones is, of course, not only done with the aid of a 3D printer. Soldiers must be based on finished elements and electronic or optical components. However, this does not make major problems. The drone control apparatus (screen pilot, FPV goggles) is widely available on the market, as is the flight controller, a circumstantial drone onboard computer. Importantly, in order to become independent of electronics from China, you can usage flight controllers produced in Europe, besides in Poland. The only component that FPV drones cannot do alone or trust on local production are engines.

Dronlab in 19 BZ is at the same time a circumstantial experimental ground for BSP developed by the Military method Institute of Armed Forces. In another words, with a miniature reflection four-virniker ("The flea" almost fits on the open hand) and larger micro-class impact drones, which have been handed over to Kleeberians for investigating and possible repairs. “We have tested them in all respect, having at our disposal full kits with the essential equipment,” admits Mr. Przemysław Joniec, soldier of 19 BZ, commending the proposals of the WITU, which may in the future be delivered to units for training and operational purposes.

Build and practice

The pilot programme of permanent dronlabs in selected military units may yet service to make further specified cells on the basis of the experience gained, to grow their capabilities and competences. IWBSU's final conclusions will come after 12 months, but it can already be seen that in 19 BZ it is going in the right direction. Soldiers test ready-made solutions, carry out first projects, exchange experiences. They besides support brigade initiatives implementation of the micro-class BSP for training purposes.

One of them is, for example, an instructor-methodic course developed by Lt. Jakub Pashtaleniec of the 3rd Mechanized Battalion 19 BZ. “I created it on the basis of available materials from training Ukrainian and Russian troops, and I besides discussed with Polish soldiers of linear and peculiar units how they train in this matter, which they usage and what works,” says the officer. This is the first specified course in the Lublin brigade to train microdron pilots usually utilized for impact tasks. Each associate first learns to build, deploy and fold these devices, and the right flights precede the simulator exercise – the minimum required is 30 hours in a virtual environment, with people without any cognition and skills from specified platforms should train up to twice as many.

The cooperation of the dronlab with the organizer of the microBSP course for soldiers from the brigade brings common benefits. – Dronlab supplies us with the essential components, which, for example, destruct during training flights. I have already placed an order for 25 frames with my colleagues, and I know that I can ask them for this kind of logistical and workshop assistance on an ongoing basis – Mr Pashtaleniec provides. So students have something to train on, and the dronlab squad can test fresh solutions on a larger scale.

Specialists give the tone

Although formally drone laboratories in selected military units have not existed permanently since January 2026, in any types of armed forces soldiers have been designing, assembling and modifying unmanned workers for respective years. peculiar forces are leading the primacy in this area. Although the experts are reluctant to talk about the solutions developed in terms of the production of their own drones, they admit that it is absolutely essential to usage them on the battlefield today. The last armed conflict proves it. It is adequate to mention Azerbaijan's usage of drones in conflicts with Armenia about Górski Karabach or during the war in Ukraine. We have no uncertainty about the importance of utilizing reconnaissance or impact drones and how much drones can aid soldiers in combat. Thanks to them, we can make losses to our opponent while limiting our own. In the realities of modern conflict, sometimes a bigger effect can be achieved by an operator with a drone than an operator with a firearm – admits the officer Commando Military Unit.

Lubliniecka unit as 1 of the first in the Polish army began to make its ability to produce its own unmanned workers. – During 1 of the changes in Afghanistan, we noticed that the Taliban was utilizing drones to attack US troops. For commercial, very simple constructions, they attached loads and dropped them on American troops. That was over 10 years ago. I thought at the time that since the Taliban were doing this, we should besides look at these topics – the erstwhile JWK operator, present a soldier of a working dronlab division from this unit, recalls. – I looked for information about this and together with a fewer colleagues we started creating different structures. At first, we did not work out, but after a year or 2 years, we gained the skills and skills to modify the constructions available on the marketplace or to make our own ones, respectively.

These simplest and cheapest commercial solutions were besides utilized by commandos in training their combat teams to make the skills of unmanned operators. present we are on a completely different level. We enter the dronlab program with appropriate knowledge, experience and many achievements – the commandos admit. In the Lublin dronlab, and formally in the laboratory of Growth Technology, various kinds of specialists work all day. Most come from combat teams and have missionary experience. any people have technical, engineering or IT education. – With the approval of the commander of the unit before the creation of a permanent group, we prepared for fresh tasks. We participated in various types of training and went abroad to gather experience from different partners. We yet bought the first 3D printers into the unit last year and started implementing the first projects – says 1 of the commandos.

The details of their work are covered by secrecy. However, it is known that soldiers are active in modifying the drones available on the market, but they besides make their own. Their constructions are various types of multi-viral and fixed planes (with rigid wings). The bulk of projects are impact platforms (including kamikaze types). “We prepare drones both radio-controlled, through fibre optics and implement autonomous solutions that execute tasks according to a pre-programmed flight path”, explains the commando.

The works are performed, among others, utilizing incremental technology. "Development of capabilities in this area is absolutely crucial for us. We must have the right skills and knowledge, keep up with technological progress. Having our own laboratory besides allows us to become independent of marketplace supplies, which can be very crucial in times of crisis or war. We have people with appropriate know-how and their laboratory – which may besides be a mobile division. This increases our ability to act," said Officer JWK.

New weapons, fresh possibilities

The establishment of military dronlabs and microBSP training centres may give the impression of a direct consequence to the situation beyond the east border, although in any units, as in the JWK mentioned above, specified technology has been implemented and tested for years. However, it cannot be hidden that conventional troops in peculiar have much to do in this area. Fortunately, there are no shortages of 3D print enthusiasts, the construction and piloting of drones who will be happy to make in this direction in their service, regardless of programs related to the usage of professional mini class drones (Orbiter, FlyEye, Warmate).

The pilot program of the Polish Armed Forces was created for people who are looking at the planet of microdrons not only for technological but besides for operational purposes. After 4 years of full-scale war in Ukraine, nobody needs to convince anyone that flying unmanned, with emphasis on inexpensive and simple in the production of FPV kamikaze drones, changed the rules of the game on the modern battlefield. The dronlab soldiers do not dream that they will overtake technological solutions from Ukraine, but want to do everything to avoid falling behind. That's what modern tactics require.

The usage of reflection microdrones allows to importantly grow situational awareness and thus rise the level of safety of soldiers. Kamikaze drones are in turn inconspicuous, but (as Ukraine shows) powerful, inexpensive and easy accessible weapons, with which the opponent simply has to reckon. And while the Polish Army is inactive far from reaching specified a standard that at least 1 soldier in each squad has a microdron in his backpack, the pilot program of the dronlabs is an crucial step and a signal that change is progressing for the better.