Poland and Turkey’s drone swarm system passes key precision test

A Polish-Turkish unmanned aircraft system demonstrated approximately one-meter accuracy striking a ground target during live field trials, MBF Group S.A. announced June 30, 2026, marking a significant validation milestone for the IRYDA+ X1 swarm-capable drone platform the Warsaw-based company has been developing with Turkish technology partner Shark Aviation Dynamics since their operating agreement was signed in May.

The test detonated a payload at 5 m (16.4 ft) above ground level, delivering effective coverage across a 30 m (98 ft) diameter area, a result MBF Group says confirms the maturity of the guidance and mission management software underpinning the system.

IRYDA+ X1 is a modular, swarm-capable fixed-wing unmanned aircraft designed to let a single operator plan, coordinate, and execute missions involving multiple aircraft simultaneously, a capability that distinguishes it from conventional drone systems that typically require one operator per aircraft. The architecture supports real-time data exchange between individual drones in the swarm, adaptive mission execution that allows the formation to respond to changing conditions without constant operator intervention, and operation in GPS-denied environments where satellite navigation is jammed or unavailable, a capability that has become increasingly important as electronic warfare systems proliferate across modern battlefields. Confirmed performance parameters for the platform include operational speed above 30 km/h (19 mph), range exceeding 20 km (12 miles), endurance over 60 minutes, and a useful payload of 300 g (10.6 oz), packaged in a configuration the company describes as highly transportable and rapidly deployable.

The one-meter precision figure matters because it places IRYDA+ X1 in a category of low-cost strike capability that most loitering munitions and small attack drones cannot reliably achieve, particularly against moving or partially obscured targets. The system’s swarm architecture, where the open and modular design allows continuous upgrades with new sensors, communication modules, anti-jamming solutions, and AI-enhanced autonomy without requiring a complete platform redesign, reflects a broader industry trend toward treating drone systems as evolving software-defined platforms rather than fixed hardware designs that become obsolete the moment a new threat or counter-technology appears.

Colonel (Ret.) Janusz Czarnecki, President of the Management Board of MBF Group S.A., who brings nearly three decades of service in the Polish Armed Forces including command and staff positions, framed the test results as confirmation that the program has moved decisively beyond the conceptual stage.

“After nearly three decades of service in the Polish Armed Forces, including command and staff positions, I understand the operational demands placed on modern unmanned systems,” Czarnecki said. “Seeing IRYDA+ X1 move from successful flight testing to demonstrated one-meter precision in live conditions confirms that we are no longer dealing with concepts or early prototypes. This is a mature, Polish-developed platform that is ready for evaluation by military and security users. Our partnership with Shark Aviation Dynamics has delivered tangible results, and the open architecture ensures the system will remain relevant and upgradable for years to come.”

IRYDA+ X1 sits inside a broader consortium effort called IRYDA Plus, which MBF Group leads alongside Squadron Sp. z o.o., part of ASE Group, which handles engineering and aeronautical design, and the Eugeniusz Kwiatkowski Polish Industrial Lobby, which provides strategic advisory and institutional networking support. The wider IRYDA Plus program, launched in September 2025, describes itself as Europe’s first unmanned fighter aircraft designed specifically for counter-drone missions, intended to address what the consortium calls the cost-exchange imbalance defining modern air defense: interceptor missiles costing hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars routinely fired at drones and loitering munitions worth a few thousand dollars.

The flagship IRYDA Plus aircraft, distinct from the smaller IRYDA+ X1 swarm system now reaching commercialization, is designed to cruise at 180 to 200 km/h (112 to 124 mph), accelerate to pursuit speeds of 250 to 280 km/h (155 to 174 mph) for intercepting targets traveling up to 220 km/h (137 mph), and carry a 360-degree rotating gun pod with a 7.62 mm carbine and an AI-supported target-aim-shot system, with endurance up to 10 hours for sustained patrol missions.

Shark Aviation Dynamics, headquartered in Selçuklu, Konya, Turkey, brings aviation expertise, UAV system architecture experience, and what MBF Group describes as a hands-on approach to operational deployment, with particular strength in swarm system architectures and AI-supported autonomy. The two companies signed a Right of First Refusal agreement in February 2026 establishing a framework for industrial collaboration, followed by a formal operating agreement in May 2026 that defined the phased development model: a technological demonstration phase in Turkey, an extended testing and optimization phase, and a market demonstration phase planned for Poland. The June 30 precision strike test result represents the technical proof point that phase was designed to produce.

The program’s next milestone is the official international premiere of IRYDA+ X1, scheduled for the first half of July 2026 in Turkey, featuring full technical briefings and live demonstrations for international audiences. MBF Group says the first complete demonstration sets, including packages of eight pairs of platforms, will be delivered to Warsaw immediately afterward, at which point the company will begin active commercialization activities in Poland targeting the Polish Armed Forces, border guard, police, and other institutional users responsible for critical infrastructure protection.

MBF Group has also indicated plans to present the system at additional international defense and security exhibitions in the coming months, building on its appearance at SAHA EXPO 2026 in Istanbul, where Shark Aviation separately entered into an agreement to develop munitions solutions and AI-supported loitering swarm architecture specifically for the IRYDA+ X1 platform.