The 2025 edition of the MSPO International Defence Industry Exhibition in Kielce, Poland, highlighted how drones have moved from niche assets to a central element of modern military doctrine. The event featured established defense giants and new start-ups alike, showcasing solutions for reconnaissance, strike, naval, and counter-drone operations — a clear sign that the lessons of the Ukraine war are reshaping global defense priorities.
Polish innovation was prominent. The Military Institute of the Land Forces unveiled the Kaczka amphibious drone, a hybrid land-and-sea system with a forward-facing optical sensor designed for covert surveillance or precision strikes. With a 5 km control range and a 10 kg payload capacity, it supports special operations and missions in denied areas. WITU’s Haasta UAV brought a different capability to the table — a long-endurance hybrid-powered drone armed with miniature anti-drone missiles, providing ground units with a rapid-response interceptor.
The maritime domain was represented by WB Group’s Stormrider unmanned surface vessel, designed and built in less than a year and tested in the Baltic Sea. Its speed and modular payload options make it suitable for coastal defense, reconnaissance, and strike roles.
Ukraine’s contribution stood out, reflecting wartime-driven innovation. The THOR OPERATOR drone, acting as an aerial “mothership,” can launch smaller FPV drones and loitering munitions, boasting a 400 km range and four-hour endurance. Ukraine’s industry aims to produce 4.5 million FPV drones in 2025, supported by the creation of a dedicated Unmanned Systems Forces to manage over 170 drone types across the military.
Private projects such as Wild Hornets are pushing boundaries with stealth interceptors, heavy FPV bombers, and thermite-delivery drones, while Fire Point revealed two ballistic systems: FP-7 (200 km range) and FP-9 (850+ km range), extending Ukraine’s long-range strike capacity.
Europe as a whole is rapidly increasing investment in indigenous drone technologies, with policymakers calling drones one of the most transformative military tools since nuclear weapons. MSPO 2025 confirmed that unmanned systems are no longer secondary — they are now central to NATO and European defense planning, enabling both deterrence and rapid strike capability.
