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With a rate of fire of up to 3,600 rounds per minute, the system developed by Zakłady Mechaniczne “Tarnów” is attracting considerable attention from MSPO visitors. Behind this striking figure, however, lies a solution designed to address one of the most pressing challenges on the modern battlefield – effectively countering unmanned aerial vehicles.

The 12.7 mm WLKM is a four-barrel, externally powered machine gun. In its counter-drone configuration, it works alongside observation and fire-control systems, enabling aerial targets to be detected, tracked and engaged. The use of gun-based weaponry is particularly relevant when facing large numbers of relatively inexpensive drones, against which the use of costly missiles is not always the most effective option.

The “Monster from Tarnów” is no longer simply an impressive demonstrator. The 12.7 mm WLKM is among the effectors planned for the SAN air-defence and counter-drone system being developed for the Polish Armed Forces. An agreement covering the system’s battery modules was signed in January 2026. The “Monster from Tarnów” has also been identified by the government among Polish solutions supporting the development of counter-drone capabilities under the SAFE programme.

MSPO 2026 is also providing Zakłady Mechaniczne “Tarnów” with an opportunity to showcase the broader direction of its technology development. During the exhibition, the company signed an agreement with Milrem Robotics on cooperation in the field of unmanned ground systems. The agreement provides for the development and production of UGVs equipped with weapon systems supplied by the Tarnów-based company, as well as their joint offering on the Polish and international markets.

In this way, ZM Tarnów’s MSPO display brings together two of the key areas currently shaping defence technology development: countering drones and the robotisation of the battlefield. The “Monster from Tarnów” is one of the most striking examples of how Polish industry is responding to these emerging requirements.

(MBrz)