IRYDA Plus: A new dimension in drone defense

The wars of the last decade, especially the war in Ukraine and conflicts in various parts of the world, have shown that drones have become an essential tool of the modern battlefield. Swarm attacks, low-budget designs and the ability to carry armaments, and resistance to interference are making classic air defense systems inadequate. The answer to these challenges is the IRYDA+ project, a Polish concept for an unmanned fighter aircraft designed to effectively combat drones, their swarms and circulating munitions, which is a component of the anti-drone system.

👉 VERRIMUS CAELUM – we sweep the skies

Theory and assumptions

The essence of IRYDY+ is to create an unmanned platform capable of neutralizing any drone – from mini to tactical drones and cruise munitions. The technical assumptions include:

  • top/chase speed: 250-280 km/h,
  • cruising/patrol speed: 180-200 km/h,
  • minimum speed: 50-60 km/h,
  • flight duration: 8-10 hours,
  • payload capacity: 15-20 kg,
  • Armament: carbine cal. 7.62 mm, in a 360° rotating gondola,
  • TAS (Target-Aim-Shot) system supported by artificial intelligence.

This combination of the traditional way of air combat with modern automation makes it possible to create a system that is cost-effective, yet extremely efficient.

Contemporary theaters of action

The conflict in Ukraine has shown that effective air defense requires flexible and mobile solutions. IRYDA PLUS will find use in border protection, securing critical infrastructure, protecting command posts and communications nodes, as well as in UN peacekeeping missions. The project meets the needs not only of the army, but also of security services and international organizations.

New economics of air combat

One of the most important strengths of the IRYDA+ project is its economy. Today, missiles costing more than $1 million per unit are often used to shoot down a low-cost drone worth a few thousand dollars. Sometimes combat aircraft such as F-16s and F-35s are pitted against imitation drones, generating huge operational and logistical costs and accident risks for pilots. IRYDA PLUS changes this logic – instead of straining budgets and consuming strategic resources, it offers a solution that is fast, efficient and, above all, many times cheaper to operate. This is an argument that makes the project attractive not only to the military, but also to taxpayers and policymakers.

Examples from the war in Ukraine perfectly illustrate this disparity: low-cost Russian airstrikes and drones-kamikazes-appear en masse, while their combat is sometimes carried out with much more expensive missiles and defense systems. Analyses and reports indicate that the cost of a single loitering-munition (of the Shahed/Geran variety, for example) is on the order of tens of thousands of dollars, while the cost of a missile or launcher used against it can reach hundreds of thousands or even more than a million dollars – compounding the economic argument for solutions such as IRYDA+.

Project open to investors and partners

We invite all individuals, shareholders, investors and potential investors interested in participating in the IRYDA PLUS project – both now and in the next stages of development – to contact us. As the leader of the consortium, we are open to discussing opportunities for co-financing, co-participation and long-term strategic involvement.

At the same time, we encourage subcontractors and specialists with experience, technical background and ideas (UAV, C-UAS, systems integration, AI, sensorics, manufacturing). If you have competencies or resources that can strengthen the project – contact us; we will be happy to discuss the scope and formula of cooperation.

First steps – conceptual model

The project was first presented at MSPO in Kielce in 2023. The trade show mock-up generated a lot of interest and confirmed the potential of the concept. In 2024, it was presented at MSPO to Ukrainian delegates and confirmed its need for existence. Since then, development has accelerated – from tactical studies, simulations, preliminary design, to the final selection of weapons and creation of a conceptual design.

Project milestones

The development of IRYDY PLUS provides for several stages of implementation (Work Packages):

  • WP1: design and construction of a shooting device with a mockup of a carbine,
  • WP2: integration of gondola with control station and computer simulation (3 combat scenarios),
  • WP3: design and construction of a mock-up airframe with the nacelle installed,
  • WP4: design and construction of a transportation container.

Each stage culminates in a milestone – from the finished nacelle, to simulations, to a full model of the airframe.

Squadron agreement

In September 2025. An agreement was signed between MBF Group SA and the company Squadron Sp. z o.o. (ASE Group). The document deals with the development and deployment of unmanned systems, including combat and anti-drone systems. They also agreed on all terms of non-denial, confidentiality and terms of cooperation for future planned projects.

Strategic consortium

The IRYDA PLUS project is not an endeavor of a single institution, but a joint effort of three complementary entities that combine knowledge, experience and resources in a formally established consortium. They are formed by MBF Group SA, Squadron Sp. z o.o. (ASE Group) and Polish Industrial Lobby im. Eugeniusz Kwiatkowski (PLP).

  • MBF Group SA serves as leader of the consortium. The company, which has been listed on the NewConnect market for more than a decade, has been consistently developing its business in the area of advanced technology and military systems, in addition to its experience in the raw materials and logistics sectors. MBF is responsible for the business side of the project – raising capital, investors and strategic coordination. Thanks to its presence on the public market, it ensures transparency of operations and full compliance with regulations for listed companies, which increases the credibility of the venture in the eyes of international partners and counterparties.
  • Squadron Sp. z o.o., part of the ASE Group, brings key technical and operational competencies in unmanned aircraft and their integration systems to the consortium. It is a company of engineers and specialists drawn from the Polish Armed Forces, with an extensive track record in the design and testing of UAV platforms, communications systems and anti-drone technologies. Squadron is responsible for the technological side of the project, including the construction of demonstrators, systems integration and development of kinetic drone combat technology.
  • Polish Industrial Lobby im. Eugeniusz Kwiatkowski (PLP). serves as an expert-scientific and opinion-making facility. The organization has been integrating the industrial, academic and defense communities in Poland for years, conducting numerous conferences and analytical work on strategic industries. PLP is strengthening the project through access to a pool of scientists, experts and lobbyists, as well as through promotion among policy and economic decision makers. It is headed by Prof. Paweł Soroka, Ph.D., who has been shaping the discourse around the Polish defense industry and the concept of national industry development for many years, among others. As part of the Central Industrial District 2 (COP2) idea.

The synergy of these three entities makes the IRYDA PLUS consortium holistic – combining practical military experience, technical and engineering background, scientific competence and market credibility. This ensures that the project not only has a solid conceptual foundation, but also a viable ability to be implemented, scaled and commercialized in domestic and international markets.

Personnel and experience

The strength of the IRYDA PLUS project is its exceptional staff, combining military, scientific, managerial and expert experience. The consortium brings together representatives of three key players – Squadron Sp. z o.o., the Polish Industrial Lobby (PLP) and MBF Group SA – who bring unique competencies in the field of defense and technology.

  • MBF Group SA provides strategic, financial and organizational management of the project. The company is headed by Col. res. Janusz Czarnecki – CEO, experienced manager and expert in electronics and military systems. A graduate of the Military Academy of Technology in Warsaw (master’s degree in electronics engineering, specialization in radiolocation systems) and postgraduate studies in organization and management at the Adam Mickiewicz University. Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań and at the WAT (with distinction). He served in the structures of the Polish Army for more than 30 years, reaching the rank of colonel and holding command, staff and management positions. Already as commander of the Jawor radiolocation station, he began working closely with industry. Later, at the Head of Communications and Radio Technical Air Assurance at the Air Force Command and the Ministry of Defense, he was responsible for the development and operation of radio technical systems. He received the title of Military Rationalizer, awarded by the Chief Inspector of Army Technology. Under his leadership, new types of NUR-series radiolocation stations and Dunajec automated command systems were developed and put into production in the civilian ministries, which were transferred to the Polish Armed Forces. He has been awarded, among others, the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta, the Silver Cross of Merit and the Gold Badge for Meritorious Service to the Development of the Machinery Industry, and the honorary title “Bene Meritus pro Instria Poloniae” (Well Deserved for Polish Industry).
  • Squadron Sp. z o.o. is a team of military practitioners and engineers associated with aviation and unmanned systems. A special role is played by Maj. res. Grzegorz Trzeciak – former commander of a squadron of unmanned reconnaissance aircraft and former director of the Center for Unmanned Technology at Lukasiewicz – Aviation Institute. Winner of the Blue Wings award from the editors of Skrzydlata Polska, and ambassador of the “5 tons above ground” campaign, Trzeciak has been promoting innovative aviation solutions and the development of unmanned aerial systems in Poland for years. ASE Group brings together more than fifteen companies with a wide range of engineering competencies. The Group actively participates in the energy transition process in Poland and around the world, being a producer of its own energy storage facilities, designer of offshore wind farms and initiator of innovative hydrogen installations. It carries out its activities comprehensively, covering most industry sectors – from environmental studies and obtaining the necessary permits, through project preparation, to safety audits and implementation of explosion protection systems in hazardous areas.
  • The Polish Industrial Lobby (PLP) contributes intellectual and expert background in the defense industry. It is headed by prof. Ph. Pawel Soroka – a well-known political scientist and columnist, long-time university lecturer, organizer of economic and defense debates and author of numerous publications on industrial strategy and national security. As PLP coordinator, Soroka has been integrating the scientific, industrial and expert communities for years, creating a platform for knowledge exchange and promoting Polish industry internationally. PLP’s achievements include. Central Industrial District 2 (COP2) concept, which inspires many of today’s economic and technological initiatives.

Combining the practical experience of the military, the scientific and organizational potential of PLP and the managerial and technological capabilities of MBF Group, IRYDA PLUS rests on a solid foundation of knowledge, practice and development vision. This is a cadre that can combine theory and practice and effectively translate them into real-world implementations.

IRYDY PLUS concept

The core of the system is an unmanned fighter aircraft capable of intercepting and destroying drones in the air. The solution provides for modular shooting nacelles, ground control stations and training simulators. In the future, IRYDA PLUS may create new aviation units within the army’s structures.

A small, easy-to-absorb physics fact: the kinetic energy of a 7.62mm carbine bullet and a small drone differ by an order of magnitude. As an estimate – with a projectile mass of ~9.5 g and a velocity of ~800 m/s – the energy of the projectile is ≈3,040 J, while a small quadcopter of ~1.5 kg moving at ~20 m/s has an energy of ≈300 J. This means that the projectile has about 10 times the kinetic energy of a small drone – hence the use of lightweight, precision kinetic effectors (e.g., 7.62 mm in a modular nacelle) has solid physical justification as an effective and economical method of neutralizing many types of BSPs.

(Note: this sample estimate serves to clarify the principle of operation; parameters (mass/speed) can be refined with tests and demonstrators).

Business potential of the project

The size and dynamics of the C-UAS market

The global market for anti-drone systems (C-UAS) is growing at a rate of several dozen percent per year, fueled by the proliferation of low-cost drones, the war in Ukraine, border protection and securing critical infrastructure. Demand is generated by both the armed forces and law enforcement, as well as the private sector (energy, petrochemicals, airports, logistics, mass events). IRYDA PLUS targets the niche of kinetic interception – where soft-kill (jamming) is sometimes ineffective or legally limited, and the use of missiles is economically unjustifiable.

Target segments and use cases

  • Military: cover own troops, logistics columns, command posts; hunt for cruise munitions and reconnaissance drones; unmanned fighter for national air defense.
  • Homeland security: protection of borders (SG), large events, high-risk urban spaces, VIP facilities.
  • Critical infrastructure/industry: protection of power plants, refineries, ports, airports, logistics centers, data centers.
  • International missions: UN/EU/NATO contingents requiring mobile and cost-effective drone cover.

IRYDY PLUS competitive advantages (customer value)

  • Economy of use: the cost of the “effector” (7.62mm ammunition) is orders of magnitude lower than that of a missile; no “burn through” of expensive conventional OPL assets.
  • Multi-class effectiveness: neutralizing mini/small drones, airborne autonomous aerial attack means, and circulating munitions – where soft-kill fails.
  • Mobility and efficiency: ready for takeoff, pursuit and interception in a short period of time; patrols in areas requiring constant presence, ability to shoot down several targets in one flight.
  • Scalability: modular nacelles, armament variants, integration with various airframes and customer BMS/ICS.
  • Interference capability: TAS + AI algorithms (targeting, correction, data fusion).

Positioning against the competition (solution map)

  • Soft-kill (jamming/GNSS spoofing) – effective on some drones, legal limits, risk of collateral interference.
  • Hard-kill ground (rifles, artillery) – range, accuracy and safety limitations above urbanized areas.
  • Missile/OPL – highest effectiveness, but not cost-effective against low-cost targets, limited “strategic munitions.”
  • IRYDA PLUS (hard-kill aviation) – combines mobility, low-cost effector and effectiveness against a wide range of targets.

Business model and revenue streams

  • Selling the system: platform + shooting gondola + GCS + communications and integration package.
  • Sales of modules: nacelles (various configurations), EO/IR sensors, communication packages, training simulators.
  • Software: TAS/AI licenses (on-prem/edge), upgrades, functional extensions.
  • Services: integration with BMS/ICS, implementations, LVC (Live-Virtual-Constructive) training, operations support (SLA), MLU upgrades.
  • Ammunition/exploitation: supplies of “effectors” and consumable parts (recurring revenue).
  • Leasing/subscription (“C-UAS-as-a-Service”): On-call security, event security, seasonal cover.

Unit economics (unit economics) – outline

  • Customer CAPEX: lower than for missile systems; possibility of phased deployments (buying modules).
  • OPEX: low-cost ammunition, service and maintenance predictable; full service contracts (PBH) possible.
  • TCO: beneficial especially for long-term patrol operation and high threat intensity.
  • ROI: faster turnaround due to low cost of use and real reduction in losses (drone shootdowns, continuity of facilities).

Certification, compliance, export

  • Compliance: public procurement, defense standards, information security requirements; compliance with national and EU laws on. BSP neutralization (space operations, population security).
  • Exports: control regimes (EU, ITAR/EAR – if applicable to component integration), offsets/compensations, cooperation with local partners (assembly, service).
  • Civilian environment: “low collateral damage” scenarios and safety standards for flights over populated areas (from civilian clients).

Market entry strategy (go-to-market)

  • Phase 1 – demonstrators and TRL: rapid proof-of-concept (WP1-WP3), demonstrations for key users (military, SG, police, CIP).
  • Phase 2 – pilots: security duty for selected sites; LVC scenarios; interfacing with existing sensors (radar/acoustic/EO).
  • Phase 3 – first deliveries: “early capability” configurations (e.g., border/refinery/airport protection), service contracts.
  • Stage 4 – scaling: production line, local service centers at partners, export versions, offsets.

Partnerships and supply chain

  • Sources of components: multi-source (EU/US/allies) for risk reduction; substitution policy.
  • Integrations: cooperation with manufacturers of radar, PNT, E/O, BMS systems; interoperability with C2/C4ISR.
  • Ecosystem: MBF-Squadron-PLP consortium (R&D, implementation, lobbying, market education), universities/institutes (grants, labs), regional integrators.

Financing for development and commercialization

  • Grants/public funds: NCBR, EDA, EDF, Horizon, MON/EU modernization programs; dual-use projects.
  • Private capital: industry/financial investors, growth/defense funds, JVs in target markets.
  • Public market: transparency and communication (ESPI/MAR) – increases credibility with investors and state customers.

Intellectual property and sustainable advantages

  • IP TAS/AI and integration: advantage in algorithmics (targeting, compensation, data fusion), software architecture (edge/real-time).
  • Integration know-how: quick alignment with customer’s fleet and sensors/communications.
  • Operational data: advantage due to model improvement cycle (after testing/piloting).

Risks and mitigations

  • Regulatory: clarify rules for neutralizing drones in civilian environments – pilots in controlled areas; work closely with regulators.
  • Supply chain: diversification, framework agreements, critical parts safety buffer.
  • User acceptance: training programs, simulators, SOPs, clear rules of use (ROE).
  • Price competition: IP protection, service contracts, speed of deployment, TCO and “on target” efficiency.

Export potential and first choice markets

  • Central and Eastern Europe: need for rapid expansion of C-UAS; compatibility with NATO infrastructure.
  • Middle East: high level of drone threats to CIP; readiness for “rapid prototyping” purchases.
  • Americas/Indo-Pacific: markets with a developed UAV ecosystem and a high propensity for “counter-UAS” innovation.
  • Entry model: local partners (service/assembly), offsets, licenses; “service” contracts for critical facilities.

Long-term perspective

IRYDA PLUS could become a new class of C-UAS effector – the tactical standard in military and infrastructure protection. Thanks to its modularity (nacelles/AI/sensors) and economy of use, the system has the potential for mass deployments, as well as for the development of specialized variants (e.g., night, sea, high-altitude) and unmanned patrols mixed with other sensors.

Schedule of activities

  • Year 1: construction of a demonstrator and ground testing of the shooting system,
  • Year 2-3: integration with the aerial platform and flight tests,
  • Milestone: first unit capable of viable operations in 2-3 years.

The logic behind the services’ use of

  • Military: a mobile, high-speed drone defense platform,
  • Police and Border Guard: protection of borders, strategic facilities, mass events,
  • International organizations: use in peacekeeping missions and stability operations.

It is a system with a universal character and a wide range of applications.

The future – low-cost C-UAS systems

IRYDA PLUS is just the beginning. The next step will be the development of low-cost C-UAS systems that can be deployed en masse. The concept is that air defense does not have to rely only on missiles – low-cost autonomous fighter aircraft can also be effective.

Competitive advantages

Compared to methods such as radio jamming, ground firing or GPS jamming – the unmanned fighter is the only solution effective against all types of BSP:

  • drones with continuous connectivity,
  • autonomous drones,
  • drones with satellite navigation,
  • circulating ammunition.

This makes IRYDA PLUS a complete solution and resistant to the development of adversary technology.

Relevance to industry and the economy

The IRYDA+ project is not only a military technology – it is also a boost for the development of the Polish aerospace and defense industry. The construction of prototypes, integration of AI systems, development of TAS software or production of simulators will open up new jobs, increase export potential and could put Poland among the world leaders in the C-UAS sector.

Summary

IRYDA PLUS is Poland’s answer to global drone challenges. The project combines innovation, military experience and business logic. With MBF Group, Squadron and PLP working together, it has a real chance of implementation and commercialization. It is a solution that can change the rules of the game on the modern battlefield and become an important element in the security of Poland, Europe and the world.

 

 

👉 Today to shoot down a drone for 5 thousand. Dollars use a million-dollar rocket.
It’s like shooting a cannon at a sparrow.
IRYDA PLUS costs dozens of times less -.
and it is just as effective.

Poland may be a pioneer in the new economics of air combat.

 

 

 

Irida Plus | MBF Group x Squadron x PLP