MSPO 2025: Poland introduces new Drozd sea-skimming drone to improve Special Forces maritime operations
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At MSPO 2025, the Polish Narodowe Centrum Badań i Rozwoju (NCBR), also known as the National Centre for Research and Development, introduced a new project called Drozd. It is described as an unmanned surface-air platform using the aerodynamic ground effect, designed specifically to support the logistic operations of Special Forces in maritime areas. The official aim of the project is to develop a demonstrator that verifies whether an ekranoplan-type drone can provide operational support in maritime environments where Special Forces require low-signature and rapid delivery solutions.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The choice of ground-effect technology places the Drozd in a category historically linked to Soviet ekranoplans but scaled down to a light, unmanned form for modern tactical applications. (Picture source: Army Recognition)
The Drozd belongs to the category of ground-effect vehicles (GEVs), which are also called ekranoplans or wing-in-ground craft. The vehicles operate by flying close to a surface such as water, ice, or flat terrain to exploit the ground effect. This aerodynamic interaction reduces lift-induced drag and increases efficiency, allowing low-altitude flight at higher speeds than ships of similar power. The International Maritime Organization divides them into three classes: Type A, limited to ground effect; Type B, capable of brief climbs up to about 150 meters; and Type C, which can fly for extended periods outside ground effect. They differ from hovercraft since they rely on forward motion rather than a static air cushion, though some use auxiliary airflow under wings to assist takeoff. Wing configurations include Alexeyev’s straight-wing design with stabilizers, Lippisch’s reverse-delta with inherent stability, and tandem layouts for balance. Digital flight control and precision sensors are increasingly applied to stabilize flight close to the surface. Advantages include higher speed than boats and improved energy efficiency per ton-kilometer, but limitations include sensitivity to sea state, wave direction, spray ingestion, large turning radii at low altitude, and difficulty avoiding surface obstacles or terrain.
Historical and modern examples show wide variation in scale and role. The Soviet Union built the KM “Caspian Sea Monster” as a demonstrator, followed by the A-90 Orlyonok troop transport with range up to 1500 kilometers and the Lun-class carrying six 3M-80 Moskit missiles. Civil and smaller designs included the Volga-2, Aquaglide family such as Aquaglide-5, and projects like the S-90 and A-050 Chaika-2, with Orion-20 and Orion-25 tested in Petrozavodsk. In the United States, Boeing proposed the Pelican concept with 152-meter length, 106-meter wingspan, and 1400-ton payload, while REGENT develops the Viceroy (12 passengers or 1600 kg payload, 300 km range, 300 km/h) and Monarch (50–100 passengers or 10,000 kg payload, 650 km electric or 3200 km hybrid range, 225 km/h). China conducted CYG-11 flights near Hainan, and South Korea announced a 300-ton, 100-ton payload craft at 250–300 km/h with $91.7 million allocated. A 2014 NASA Ames study concluded passenger GEVs could reduce costs and emissions, highlighting continued international interest in the concept.
The overall weight of the Drozd drone is estimated at approximately 250 to 300 kilograms, while the internal cargo bay allows to carry a payload of up to 50 kilograms. Its operational flight height is expected to remain between 3 and 5 meters above the water surface, which is within the range where ground effect significantly reduces aerodynamic drag and enhances lift. The demonstrator is designed to achieve a maximum speed of up to 100 kilometers per hour, while the expected range varies from several kilometers to several dozen kilometers depending on mission profile and conditions. These performance figures situate the platform in a short-range operational category suitable for tactical resupply, localized reconnaissance, or near-shore combat support missions.
The construction of the Drozd is based on modular components, which are individually listed in the program description. For instance, the main hull forms the central module to which additional systems are attached. Side modules located on the right and left include winglets that improve stability and lift performance close to the water surface. A rudder module provides directional control, while an elevator module handles pitch adjustments. Propulsion is supplied by a separate power module, and a control system module is dedicated to guidance and stability management. This modularity indicates that future iterations of Drozd could modify or replace certain sections depending on the mission, such as different propulsion options or revised control surfaces for higher sea state operations.
Planned operational capabilities for the platform are described across three categories. The first is logistical, where the vehicle would deliver or recover equipment and supplies for Special Forces teams, potentially reducing exposure of manned craft in littoral operations. The second is reconnaissance, where Drozd is expected to cooperate with unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), forming a multi-domain unmanned reconnaissance and relay network. The third is combat-oriented, as the documentation specifies potential integration with kinetic payloads such as naval mines, mini-torpedoes, or other small-scale effectors. This explicit mention of combat functions underlines that the demonstrator is not only considered for support roles but also as a candidate for direct effect missions in coastal or riverine environments.
The operational conditions for Drozd are defined in terms of sea state, reflecting the critical impact of water surface conditions on ground-effect vehicles. For initial trials and early operational scenarios, the platform is limited to sea states below 2 on the Beaufort scale, which corresponds to relatively calm waters with only small wavelets. The long-term target is to achieve reliable operation above sea state 3, which involves larger waves and more challenging stability conditions. This progression illustrates the developmental nature of the project, since moving from stable operation in calm seas to functional control in rougher waters is a significant technical hurdle for ekranoplan-type craft. The limits are particularly important given Drozd’s very low operational altitude of 3 to 5 meters above the surface, where even moderate waves may interfere with flight dynamics.
The NCBR situates Drozd within a wider effort to stimulate defense innovation through targeted research funding. The project is financed directly by the National Centre for Research and Development, which manages programs across multiple domains of science, technology, and security, including collaborations with the Ministry of Defense. The development of Drozd demonstrates how such funding can be applied to exploratory platforms that test unconventional solutions for operational problems. In this case, the use of a ground-effect unmanned platform addresses niche requirements of maritime Special Forces for rapid transport, reconnaissance, and limited strike capability without requiring conventional naval or air assets. The presentation of Drozd at MSPO 2025 indicates that the demonstrator is considered mature enough for public display, but the system remains at the development stage, with further work required on sea state tolerance, payload integration, and system autonomy.
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At MSPO 2025, the Polish Narodowe Centrum Badań i Rozwoju (NCBR), also known as the National Centre for Research and Development, introduced a new project called Drozd. It is described as an unmanned surface-air platform using the aerodynamic ground effect, designed specifically to support the logistic operations of Special Forces in maritime areas. The official aim of the project is to develop a demonstrator that verifies whether an ekranoplan-type drone can provide operational support in maritime environments where Special Forces require low-signature and rapid delivery solutions.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The choice of ground-effect technology places the Drozd in a category historically linked to Soviet ekranoplans but scaled down to a light, unmanned form for modern tactical applications. (Picture source: Army Recognition)
The Drozd belongs to the category of ground-effect vehicles (GEVs), which are also called ekranoplans or wing-in-ground craft. The vehicles operate by flying close to a surface such as water, ice, or flat terrain to exploit the ground effect. This aerodynamic interaction reduces lift-induced drag and increases efficiency, allowing low-altitude flight at higher speeds than ships of similar power. The International Maritime Organization divides them into three classes: Type A, limited to ground effect; Type B, capable of brief climbs up to about 150 meters; and Type C, which can fly for extended periods outside ground effect. They differ from hovercraft since they rely on forward motion rather than a static air cushion, though some use auxiliary airflow under wings to assist takeoff. Wing configurations include Alexeyev’s straight-wing design with stabilizers, Lippisch’s reverse-delta with inherent stability, and tandem layouts for balance. Digital flight control and precision sensors are increasingly applied to stabilize flight close to the surface. Advantages include higher speed than boats and improved energy efficiency per ton-kilometer, but limitations include sensitivity to sea state, wave direction, spray ingestion, large turning radii at low altitude, and difficulty avoiding surface obstacles or terrain.
Historical and modern examples show wide variation in scale and role. The Soviet Union built the KM “Caspian Sea Monster” as a demonstrator, followed by the A-90 Orlyonok troop transport with range up to 1500 kilometers and the Lun-class carrying six 3M-80 Moskit missiles. Civil and smaller designs included the Volga-2, Aquaglide family such as Aquaglide-5, and projects like the S-90 and A-050 Chaika-2, with Orion-20 and Orion-25 tested in Petrozavodsk. In the United States, Boeing proposed the Pelican concept with 152-meter length, 106-meter wingspan, and 1400-ton payload, while REGENT develops the Viceroy (12 passengers or 1600 kg payload, 300 km range, 300 km/h) and Monarch (50–100 passengers or 10,000 kg payload, 650 km electric or 3200 km hybrid range, 225 km/h). China conducted CYG-11 flights near Hainan, and South Korea announced a 300-ton, 100-ton payload craft at 250–300 km/h with $91.7 million allocated. A 2014 NASA Ames study concluded passenger GEVs could reduce costs and emissions, highlighting continued international interest in the concept.
The overall weight of the Drozd drone is estimated at approximately 250 to 300 kilograms, while the internal cargo bay allows to carry a payload of up to 50 kilograms. Its operational flight height is expected to remain between 3 and 5 meters above the water surface, which is within the range where ground effect significantly reduces aerodynamic drag and enhances lift. The demonstrator is designed to achieve a maximum speed of up to 100 kilometers per hour, while the expected range varies from several kilometers to several dozen kilometers depending on mission profile and conditions. These performance figures situate the platform in a short-range operational category suitable for tactical resupply, localized reconnaissance, or near-shore combat support missions.
The construction of the Drozd is based on modular components, which are individually listed in the program description. For instance, the main hull forms the central module to which additional systems are attached. Side modules located on the right and left include winglets that improve stability and lift performance close to the water surface. A rudder module provides directional control, while an elevator module handles pitch adjustments. Propulsion is supplied by a separate power module, and a control system module is dedicated to guidance and stability management. This modularity indicates that future iterations of Drozd could modify or replace certain sections depending on the mission, such as different propulsion options or revised control surfaces for higher sea state operations.
Planned operational capabilities for the platform are described across three categories. The first is logistical, where the vehicle would deliver or recover equipment and supplies for Special Forces teams, potentially reducing exposure of manned craft in littoral operations. The second is reconnaissance, where Drozd is expected to cooperate with unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), forming a multi-domain unmanned reconnaissance and relay network. The third is combat-oriented, as the documentation specifies potential integration with kinetic payloads such as naval mines, mini-torpedoes, or other small-scale effectors. This explicit mention of combat functions underlines that the demonstrator is not only considered for support roles but also as a candidate for direct effect missions in coastal or riverine environments.
The operational conditions for Drozd are defined in terms of sea state, reflecting the critical impact of water surface conditions on ground-effect vehicles. For initial trials and early operational scenarios, the platform is limited to sea states below 2 on the Beaufort scale, which corresponds to relatively calm waters with only small wavelets. The long-term target is to achieve reliable operation above sea state 3, which involves larger waves and more challenging stability conditions. This progression illustrates the developmental nature of the project, since moving from stable operation in calm seas to functional control in rougher waters is a significant technical hurdle for ekranoplan-type craft. The limits are particularly important given Drozd’s very low operational altitude of 3 to 5 meters above the surface, where even moderate waves may interfere with flight dynamics.
The NCBR situates Drozd within a wider effort to stimulate defense innovation through targeted research funding. The project is financed directly by the National Centre for Research and Development, which manages programs across multiple domains of science, technology, and security, including collaborations with the Ministry of Defense. The development of Drozd demonstrates how such funding can be applied to exploratory platforms that test unconventional solutions for operational problems. In this case, the use of a ground-effect unmanned platform addresses niche requirements of maritime Special Forces for rapid transport, reconnaissance, and limited strike capability without requiring conventional naval or air assets. The presentation of Drozd at MSPO 2025 indicates that the demonstrator is considered mature enough for public display, but the system remains at the development stage, with further work required on sea state tolerance, payload integration, and system autonomy.
