IRYDA+ X1 Set for Its European Debut at MSPO 2026

This coming Tuesday, September 8, 2026, the IRYDA+ X1 will be officially unveiled for the first time in Poland and Europe. The system will make its debut during VIP Day at the 34th MSPO International Defense Industry Exhibition in Kielce —one of the most important gathering places for the European defense industry, representatives of the armed forces, public administration, research institutes, universities, and foreign delegations. MBF Group S.A., together with its technology partner Shark Aviation, will present not a mock-up or a design that exists only on paper, but an actual platform that has already undergone successive stages of engineering work, flight tests, and an official technical demonstration.

The journey toward Kielce began in the spring of 2026, and over the course of several intense months, it involved much more than just preparing a single unmanned aerial vehicle. It was a parallel process of developing the technology, organizing the documentation, building a commercialization model, securing funding, conducting discussions with potential customers, and establishing industry relationships that would make it possible to consider integrating and manufacturing the system in Poland. MSPO will be the first opportunity to present the results of this work in Europe as a concrete product developed through Polish-Turkish cooperation.

From the partnership with Shark Aviation to the demonstration in Konya

In May 2026, MBF Group officially announced that the IRYDA+ X1 project had entered a new phase of development, carried out in collaboration with Shark Aviation. The previous months were marked by conceptual work, technical discussions, and the development of an international project ecosystem, while the collaboration with our Turkish partner paved the way for the transition from the conceptual phase to the demonstration phase. IRYDA+ remains a broader program for the development of autonomous UAV systems, while the X1 became the first actual platform on which it was possible to verify the adopted architecture, mission planning methods, and the ability to operate multiple aircraft under the supervision of a single operator. The division of responsibilities among the partners is clear.

The Shark Aviation team, led by Capt. res. pil. Eng. Şabana Abura brings her aviation and engineering expertise to the project, overseeing platform development, the flight control system, mission component integration, prototype preparation, and test operations. MBF Group, on the other hand, is developing the business and institutional aspects of the project: it organizes financing, prepares a commercialization model and system-level proposals, builds relationships with future customers, and takes steps to ensure that integration, operations, and future production are located in Poland to the greatest extent possible. The partnership was further strengthened by the establishment of Shark Aviation Dynamics’ Polish operational base, which confirmed its long-term nature.

In May and June, work progressed on several fronts at once. Improvements were made to autonomy, control algorithms, telemetry, mission planning, and the concept of operating multiple platforms from a single ground control station. At the same time, various mission configurations were analyzed—ranging from reconnaissance, surveillance, and infrastructure protection to strike missions requiring the integration of appropriate sensors and payloads. The results of the field tests published by the Company also included a precise strike on a ground target with an accuracy of approximately one meter. This was an important milestone in the development of the guidance system, but it did not replace the further research, qualification, and integration required for the final product. At the same time, the project began to secure solid financial and commercial backing. Investors have joined the effort to develop the new technologies segment, and in June, work on a preliminary pricing policy was completed and efforts to market the products in foreign markets began. We have received the first inquiries regarding presentations, testing, and potential deliveries. As a result, the engineering work was aligned with market expectations from the very beginning: system mobility, ease of setup, operating costs, scope of training, logistics, and the ability to tailor the configuration to a specific user.

In early July, MBF Group announced that IRYDA+ X1 had reached Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 7, defined as the demonstration of a system prototype in an operational environment. This did not mean that the entire qualification process had been completed or that the product had attained the status of a finished military product. However, it confirmed that the project had moved beyond the conceptual and laboratory stages, and that its core components could be tested under actual flight conditions. It was the moment of transition from stated goals to results that could be documented, analyzed, and presented to future partners.

The most important test of the first phase was the official demonstration held on July 19, 2026, at the Shark Aviation flight test facility in Konya. Between 6:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., five prototype aircraft carried out separate scenarios prepared in accordance with mission plans, safety procedures, and specific success criteria. All platforms completed their assigned profiles. One of them completed an autonomous route approximately 24 kilometers long; two others carried out separate autonomous missions; and the remaining two operated simultaneously under the supervision of a single operator using a single ground control station.

During the verified flight profile, the flight duration was recorded at approximately 18 minutes, the cruise speed at approximately 99 km/h, and the maximum indicated speed at 146 km/h. The platform followed the preprogrammed waypoints without the need to manually guide the basic flight path. Active command and telemetry communications were maintained at a distance of approximately two kilometers, after which the spacecraft carried out its pre-programmed mission. The distance of 24 kilometers refers to the actual distance traveled during Phase I, not the declared maximum range or operational radius. Similarly, the simultaneous operation of two platforms should be described as a coordinated multi-platform operation—not as a fully distributed, autonomous swarm—because the ships were not exchanging data directly with one another at that time.

The data refer to the publicly reported Phase I demonstration in Konya. The final configuration, equipment, communications, sensors, and mission payload will depend on the customer’s requirements and the results of subsequent development phases.

From Prototype to Product and Industrial Collaboration

The demonstration in Konya confirmed that the system’s basic architecture was functioning, but at the same time clearly charted the way forward. Subsequent phases include, among other things, the development of communications, the integration of EO/IR sensors and other mission payloads, testing of resistance to electronic warfare, environmental testing, operation in more challenging weather conditions, and the ability to interoperate with external command and battlefield management systems. Throughout the entire development process, Shark Aviation produced a total of 52 prototype platforms used for aerodynamic, structural, software, navigation, integration, and crash tests. The five ships unveiled on July 19 were thus the result of a much broader research and development program.

Following Phase I, the process of translating the proven architecture into a comprehensive offering began. The discussions are not limited to the aircraft itself, but rather the entire system, which may include the platform, a ground control station, a telemetry module and antennas, mission planning software, a power source, a charger, a transport case, documentation, training, and technical support. In August, the Company announced a preliminary order for ten complete sets for a customer in Asia. It is not yet a sales contract, but it provides a concrete basis for agreeing on the configuration, schedule, terms of delivery, service, and training.

A second significant step toward entering the market was a three-year agreement on strategic industrial, technological, and commercial cooperation with ARMPOL Innovation and Implementation Company. The Polish partner has many years of experience in the design, integration, and manufacture of specialized equipment for defense, security, emergency response, and civil protection. The agreement provides for the possibility of including X1 in ARMPOL’s catalog and price list as an optional component of selected solutions, preparing joint proposals, and participating in procurement processes, tenders, and implementation projects.

It is, therefore, a genuine channel for trade and integration, rather than merely a declaration of future interest. In practice, IRYDA+ X1 can be integrated with ARMPOL solutions on several levels. Specialized containers can serve as mobile command centers and operator stations, as well as transportation, maintenance, or analytical facilities. Another application under consideration is the creation of an aerial reconnaissance and surveillance layer around a mobile, high-capacity evacuation and transport ferry. In this model, the X1 ceases to function solely as a standalone aircraft and becomes an optional component of a larger transport, reconnaissance, logistics, or command system.

“From the very beginning, we wanted to ensure that IRYDA+ X1 wouldn’t remain a project that existed only in presentations and communications. Within a few months, we progressed from discussions with a technology partner to testing five platforms, a documented demonstration, initial sales talks, and the integration of the system into a broader Polish industrial offering. “MSPO is meant to demonstrate that we can combine technology, capital, engineering expertise, and market access.”

Robert Krassowski, COO of MBF Group S.A.

When positioning the IRYDA+ X1 on the market, it is important to maintain the proper perspective. Examples include the WARMATE 3 manufactured by the WB Group, the Switchblade 300 Block 20 from AeroVironment, and the HERO-30 from the Israeli company UVision. However, these are more mature systems that have been under development and in production for years, with their own configurations, supply chains, user bases, and—in some cases—operational experience. The IRYDA+ X1 should not be presented as a simple or cheaper alternative to any of them. Its potential role is based on a combination of mobility, the ability to autonomously carry out a preprogrammed mission, the capability for a small team to oversee multiple platforms, and the ability to recover the vessel after a mission is canceled, provided that communication is maintained and the operational situation permits it.

This comparison is for informational purposes only and does not imply that the systems are fully comparable. Individual platforms differ in terms of their intended use, configuration, sensors, mission payloads, launch method, scope of delivery, and production and operational maturity. Public values should not be equated with the specifications of every configuration offered.

MSPO 2026: European debut, conference, and discussions about the next phase

The European debut of the IRYDA+ X1 will take place in a unique setting. The 34th International Defense Industry Exhibition will take place in Kielce from September 8 to 11, 2026, and its first day will be designated as VIP Day. For years, MSPO has remained one of the most important events in the defense industry in Central and Eastern Europe, bringing together manufacturers, integrators, representatives of the armed forces, government agencies, research institutes, universities, diplomatic missions, and international delegations. For MBF Group and Shark Aviation, this will be an opportunity to have the system evaluated by a professional community and to compare its development path with the actual needs of future users.

The presentation was included in the program of the National Scientific Conference “Dual-Use Technologies as a Means of Strengthening National Defense and Economic Development.” The event will begin on September 8 at 9:00 a.m. and will last until 1:35 p.m. in the Lambda Room at the Targi Kielce Congress Center. Janusz Czarnecki, President of the Management Board of MBF Group S.A., will participate in an introductory panel moderated by Prof. Dr. M.A. Paweł Soroka. Next, Robert Krassowski, Executive Director and COO of MBF Group S.A., together with Capt. res. pil. Eng. Şabanem Aburem, President of Shark Aviation, will present a paper titled “Iryda Then and Now—The Case of a Dual-Purpose Drone.” The presentation will explore the historical significance of the name “Iryda,” Polish-Turkish technological cooperation, the results of trials conducted to date, and the prospects for the practical implementation of the new system.

The conference program indicates that the IRYDA+ X1 will be presented amid a serious debate on technology transfer, autonomy, artificial intelligence, security, and the development of national industrial capabilities. Participants and speakers include, among others, prof. Ph. Paweł Soroka, Prof. Ph. Eng. Hanna Bogucka of the Poznań University of Technology, Gen. Ph.D., Eng. Bogusław Bębenek, representing ARMPOL; Col. Dr. Michał Kalisiak from the War Studies University; and Prof. Ph. Eng. Marcin Struszczyk of ITB MORATEX. The presence of an ARMPOL representative will also demonstrate that cooperation on the X1 project now extends beyond aviation technology to include its potential integration with specific offerings from Polish industry.

MBF Group’s participation in MSPO will not be limited to a panel discussion and a conference presentation. The company, together with its partners, has prepared an extensive schedule of one-on-one meetings with representatives of defense and technology companies, research institutes, universities, potential users, system integrators, and entities interested in international cooperation. The discussions are expected to cover, among other things, upcoming demonstrations in Poland, system development and testing, sensor and communications integration, participation in larger system solutions, production organization, financing, and possible sales and distribution models. The goal is to use the four days of the trade show to move from a product presentation to agreements that will define its next technical and commercial phases.

“We’re heading to MSPO with a full schedule of meetings and clearly defined goals. We hope that some of these discussions will result in agreements to hold further demonstrations, launch integration processes, or draft letters of intent and memoranda of cooperation. “If the conclusions reached require public disclosure, MBF Group will announce them in accordance with applicable regulations and disclosure rules governing public companies.”

Robert Krassowski, COO of MBF Group S.A.

MSPO will therefore not mark the end of the journey that began in the spring, but rather the conclusion of the first stage and the beginning of the next stage of the program. Within a few months, a Polish-Turkish partnership was formed, further prototypes were developed and tested, an official demonstration of five vessels was held in Konya, commercialization began, initial interest in purchasing was generated, and an industrial partnership with ARMPOL was established. Konya confirmed that the IRYDA+ X1 is capable of performing real, pre-programmed missions in an aviation environment. Kielce is set to showcase the role the system could play in the Polish and European defense ecosystems—and which of the discussions held during the fair will form the basis for future demonstrations, agreements, and implementations.

Iryda+ X1