WB Group, Poland’s largest private defence company, plans to invest $100 million over five years as it seeks to establish manufacturing bases in India to offer its different classes of battle-proven unmanned systems to the armed forces, Vice-President Adam Bartosiewicz told businessline in an exclusive interview.
The WB Group’s drone has not only been used in Operation Sindoor but, as per the company VP who was in Delhi as part of a delegation accompanying Poland Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s India visit from October 21 to October 23, forms the mainstay of unmanned platforms Ukraine has been deploying in its 12-year-long fight against the Russian onslaught.
“During the next three to five years, it may be something to the tune of $100 million,” he said. The investment will be channelled through its Indian joint venture, WB Electronics India Pvt Ltd, to establish manufacturing and R&D facilities, Bartosiewicz said. The company is scouting for a location in the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor.
When asked about its industrial engagement plans, he said, “Our main goal is to somehow establish India as a drone champion, as we are in our part of Europe, based on the extensive experience that we have in applying our products in the Ukraine-Russia conflict.”
“…In the conflict, we have supported the Ukrainian army since 2014. This means that no other company in the world has gathered that kind of experience over such a long period. We stopped counting our equipment’s flight hours after one million. Based on this operational experience and the extensive feedback we received from the front lines, we have been able to develop great products. I think this would be a very good opportunity for India to achieve that level of combat readiness in the equipment it intends to procure in the future,” the WB Group Vice-President said.
When asked how the company plans to remain competitive in the Indian market, given the growing capabilities of domestic companies to offer quality unmanned systems amid the focus on the economics of war and battlefield sustainability, he said, “That is sort of our strategy: to develop products that are superior in terms of technology and capabilities. We are also known for not being the cheapest, right?”
“We first start by designing the perfect aircraft. Only then do we think about how to reduce the price. Our products, in fact, have no direct comparisons with existing ones. That is why they are more expensive: developing that level of sophistication does not come cheap. It involves extensive engineering, very high-quality components, and, above all, extensive experience gained from war zones,” he explained.
The Vice-President also did not rule out exporting products manufactured in India once the company establishes a manufacturing facility and an associated supply chain.
Published on October 25, 2026
