WB Group
{{Short description|Polish defence company}}
{{Infobox company
| name = WB Group S.A.
| logo = WB_Group_corporate_logo.png
| logo_size =
| image = WB Group, foto2.jpg
| image_caption = WB Group headquarters
| type = Spółka Akcyjna
| traded_as =
| foundation = 1997
| founder =
| location_city = Ożarów Mazowiecki
| location_country = Poland
| key_people = Piotr Wojciechowski
| industry = Aerospace, Defence, Security, Electronics
| products =
| revenue = {{US$|0.4 billion|link=yes}}{{Cite web |url=https://tvpworld.com/79703596/polish-arms-producer-among-global-top-100-defense-firms |title=Polish arms producer among global top 100 defense firms |website=tvpworld.com |date=8 August 2024 |access-date=19 March 2025}}
| revenue_year = 2023
| assets =
| num_employees =
| homepage = [https://www.wbgroup.pl/en/ www.wbgroup.pl/en/]
}}
WB Group is a Polish electronics and aeronautics manufacturer, and one of Europe's largest private defence contractors.{{Cite web |last=Team |first=ESD Editorial |date=2019-09-19 |title=Polish Defence Industry |url=https://euro-sd.com/2019/09/articles/14484/polish-defence-industry/ |access-date=2022-12-10 |website=European Security & Defence |language=en-US}} The company was established in 1997 and is based in Ożarów Mazowiecki.{{cite web | url = https://www.wbgroup.pl/en/wb-electronics/ | title = WB Electronics - WB GROUP | access-date = 2022-12-08 }} Through its various subsidiaries, WB produces military communications equipment,{{cite web | url = https://www.wbgroup.pl/en/kategoria-produktow/soldiers-communications/ | title = Personal and mobile communications systems - WB GROUP | access-date = 2022-12-08 }} command and control systems,{{cite web | url = https://www.wbgroup.pl/en/obszar-dzialalnosci/communications-command-systems/ | title = C4I Systems - WB GROUP | access-date = 2022-12-08 }} fire-control systems,{{cite web | url = https://www.wbgroup.pl/en/kategoria-produktow/fire-control-systems/ | title = Fire Control Systems - WB GROUP | access-date = 2022-12-08 }} unmanned aerial vehicles,{{cite web | url = https://www.wbgroup.pl/en/obszar-dzialalnosci/uav-systems/ | title = UAV systems - WB GROUP | access-date = 2022-12-08 }} and loitering munitions.{{cite web | url = https://www.wbgroup.pl/en/kategoria-produktow/reconaissance-strike-systems/ | title = Reconnaissance & strike systems - WB GROUP | access-date = 2022-12-08 }}
WB Group is the second largest arms company in Poland, after Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2024-08-08 |title=Polish arms producer among global top 100 defense firms |url=https://tvpworld.com/79703596/polish-arms-producer-among-global-top-100-defense-firms |access-date=2025-03-19 |website=tvpworld.com |language=}}
WB Electronics Warmate is being used by Ukraine during the Russian invasion.{{cite web | url = https://mezha.media/en/2022/04/25/the-warmate-uav-a-polish-alternative-to-the-switchblades-kamikaze-drone-already-in-ukraine/ | title = The Warmate UAV – a Polish alternative to the Switchblades kamikaze drone already in Ukraine | date = 2022-04-25 | access-date = 2022-12-08 }} The FONET vehicle and battlefield communication system was licensed to L3Harris Technologies and is used by the United States Armed Forces.{{cite web | url = https://wbgroupamerica.com/fonet/american-bms-system-based-on-wbs-fonet-technology/ | title = WB Group America {{pipe}} American BMS - System based on WB's FONET Technology | date = 2016-10-02 | access-date = 2022-12-08 }}{{cite web | url = https://milmag.pl/en/fonet-system-new-enhanced-variant/ | title = FONET System – New Enhanced Variant | date = 2022-02-07 | access-date = 2022-12-08 }}
Acquisitions
= Flytronic =
In 2009 WB acquired the UAV startup Flytronic, which had created the FlyEye UAV now flown by the Polish Territorial Defence Force{{cite web | url = https://defence24.com/polish-territorial-defence-component-receives-almost-50-flyeye-uavs | title = Polish Territorial Defence Forces Receive Almost 50 FlyEye UAVs | date = 2019-12-03 | access-date = 2022-12-08 }} and by the Armed Forces of Ukraine{{cite web | url = https://en.defence-ua.com/weapon_and_tech/stealth_aircraft_helps_the_ukrainian_armed_forces_destroy_enemys_tor_air_defense_systems_and_other_equipment-3687.html | title = 'Stealth Aircraft' Helps the Ukrainian Armed Forces Destroy Enemy's 'Tor' Air Defense Systems and Other Equipment | date = 2022-07-26 | access-date = 2022-12-08 }} under the WB Electronics brand.
= Radmor =
Zakłady Radiowe Radmor was a radio equipment manufacturer formed at the Gdańsk University of Technology in 1947. After it expanded from marine-oriented equipment to home audio during the Soviet era, the company was re-privatized in 1994 and the focus on public service radios was restored. Radmor began collaborating with the French Thales conglomerate even before Poland's accession to NATO, and was one of the early members of the consortium developing the European Secure Software-defined Radio.
= Arex =
{{Expand section|date=December 2022}}
= MindMade =
{{Expand section|date=December 2022}}
= Polish Development Fund =
In 2017 the Polish Development Fund, a fund of the Polish Treasury, invested PLN 128 million (EUR 30 million or USD 34 million at the time) in the WB Group, in exchange for 24% of shares.{{Cite journal |last=Cielma |first=Mariusz |date=2017 |title=Skarb państwa inwestuje w grupę WB |journal=Nowa Technika Wojskowa |volume=12 |pages=59}}
External links
- https://www.wbgroup.pl/en/ – official website in English language
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Defence companies of Poland
Category:Technology companies established in 1997