Poland's "monster from Tarnów": A cutting-edge answer to drone warfare

Drones, as the war in Ukraine has shown, pose a significant threat. In Poland, the Tarnów Mechanical Works are working on an entire family of weaponry designed to combat them, including even microwave weapons.

During our visit to the Tarnów Mechanical Works (TMW), we were able to get a glimpse of the latest version and development prospects of the infamous "monster from Tarnów" and microwave weapons.

The "monster from Tarnów" presented during a shooting range test in 2022 even garnered keen interest in Russia and Ukraine, as reported by Virtual Poland journalist Adam Gaafar. However, it turns out that this is not the only anti-drone measure being considered at TMW.

In a conversation with WP Tech, TMW's R&D director Krzysztof Lustofin admitted that the company is involved in two programmes called "Rosemary" and "Vector". Both are funded by the National Centre for Research and Development, with the National Centre for Nuclear Research leading the latter. The goal is to create electromagnetic weapons. TMW's role in both programmes is to design a fire control system for detecting and tracking targets.

For example, the "Rosemary" programme, which aims to create a microwave weapon with a power of at least 1 GW, is conceptually similar to the Leonidas system by the American company Epirus. Lustofin revealed that the goal is to reach the sixth level of technological readiness by May 2026, meaning building a technology demonstrator and conducting near-real tests. Achieving the ninth level, i.e., preparation for mass production, will take at least six years.

The "monster from Tarnów", generating significant interest, is still at the prototype stage, but – as Lustofin mentioned – "one of the many potential export directions is Ukraine."

- However, according to the work schedule, it is still about 36 months before the drone combat system reaches the ninth level of technological readiness and goes into production, provided that there is funding from a domestic or foreign client – he conveyed.

We learned that the drone combat system has also significantly changed since its debut in 2022. The chief engineer revealed to us that "the new version has received a stabilization system allowing for the protection of a moving convoy". In addition, work is being done to lighten the system, as the previous version was overestimated. The final system will be lighter, but its combat weight (600 kg) may remain unchanged due to an increase in ammunition supply to over 400 rounds.

Also, the observation head will be separated from the launcher and placed, for example, on the roof of a vehicle, as the "monster from Tarnów" is to be installable on many vehicles. As Lustofin stated, discussions have been held, and analyses are being conducted to mount our anti-drone system on the Light Reconnaissance Vehicles produced by Rosomak S.A. (the Polish version of KIA's KLTV).

The radar will also change because there will be four fixed antennas, not one used so far during shooting range tests. This will allow for continuous monitoring of the space within a 360-degree range. The company is currently testing several solutions, both Polish (PIT RADWAR S.A and APS) and foreign. However, at the beginning of the project, in 2019, there were no radars available in Poland with the appropriate characteristics. The "monster from Tarnów" will be able to operate independently or as part of a larger system.

The heart of it is a 50 kg four-barreled powered machine gun WLKM 12.7 characterized by a firing rate of 3,600 rnds./min. Such a firing rate allows for literally "showering the target with lead", which, given the ubiquity and low price (compared to larger caliber ammunition), allows for hitting flying targets, light fortifications, and even lightly armored vehicles with the use of armour-piercing ammunition. For example, the MM173 rounds with an improved tungsten penetrator are capable of piercing even 22 mm of armour steel at a distance of 700 metres.

The effective range of WLKM 12.7 is about 2 km, but for combating the smallest drones, as the designer of "the monster from Tarnów" told us, the optimal range is up to 500 metres. At such a distance, in practice, the user has a 100% guarantee of eliminating even the smallest drones the size of DJI Mavic or the popular in Ukraine improvised kamikaze drones without excessive ammunition consumption.

It is worth noting that "the fired projectiles must hit the drone centrally, as it is not fragmentary or programmable ammunition, and usually, several hits are required to bring it down. In the case of larger drones or helicopters, the effective range of the system increases, as the target is larger."

The fire control system and radar provide the detection and tracking of dozens of targets simultaneously, allowing the soldier operating the system to first engage targets that are closest or moving fastest.

As a result, a very light last-chance anti-drone CIWS (Close-In Weapon System) has been developed, which is easier to implement on light platforms than the Pilica system, i.e., the deeply modernized ZU-23-2 23 mm cannons. TMW told us they are receiving numerous inquiries about "the monster from Tarnów".