GUT for National Security: The Unmanned DROZD Ekranoplan is Under Development | Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Ship Technology at the Gdańsk University of Technology

Project DROZD: A Water-Air Unmanned Platform Using Ground Effect to Support Special Forces in Maritime Operations

Since 2023, the DROZD project has been under development as part of a consortium involving Gdańsk University of Technology, the Jarosław Dąbrowski Military University of Technology, and the Air Force Institute of Technology. Led by Gdańsk University of Technology, the project is funded through a defence programme supported by the National Centre for Research and Development.

National Security

“The primary goal of the project is to create a platform that contributes to enhancing national security,” explains project leader Professor Mirosław K. Gerigk from the Department of Mechanical Vehicles and Military Technology at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Ship Technology.

“When designing the prototype, we set several key objectives,” adds Dr. Marek Chodnicki from the Department of Applied Mechanics and Biomechanics at the same faculty, who serves as the project’s operations manager. “Above all, the unit must be capable of quickly completing assigned missions over water areas near the shoreline, taking off from water, flying at minimal altitudes above the surface, and carrying payloads of specified weight”, he emphasises.

Wings Designed to Achieve Ground Effect

The DROZD, an unmanned surface-air platform (USV-UAV-WIG – Unmanned Surface Vehicle, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, Wing in Ground Effect), combines the features of an aircraft and a high-speed watercraft. It moves by utilising the ground effect, a phenomenon that generates increased lift on the lifting surfaces of the vehicle when flying at a low altitude over water or land – such as a beach. At these low altitudes, the wings generate more lift than they would at higher flight levels. The DROZD avoids increasing its altitude, as the ground effect would dissipate.

The creation of the ground effect in DROZD is supported by the specific shape of the wing profile (with both a pressure and suction surface), as well as its dimensions (span, chord, sweep). The DROZD takes off from the water slowly, and as its speed increases, the hydrodynamic resistance decreases, thanks to the specially designed bottom of the vehicle's hull. These aerodynamic and hydrodynamic features facilitate the ground effect.

An Innovative Solution

The DROZD is an unconventional solution, differing from the applications of manned vehicles of this type. It is a small, unmanned high-speed unit. Its development is made possible by years of work by the team on advanced technologies related to innovative hull geometry, propulsion systems, power sources, materials technology, as well as advanced remote and autonomous systems, sensor and effector systems, and integrated control systems.

Expected Outcomes

The project involves research using advanced computer simulation methods and physical model testing. Based on the results, a technology demonstrator will be created, which will be tested in conditions close to real-world scenarios. The structure of the unit will be made from hybrid materials: glass and carbon fibres with a plastic core material. It will be powered by a turboprop engine, hovering a few metres above the water, with a maximum weight of 400 kg. The vehicle will be remotely controlled from a shore-based station, but future stages of the project will focus on increasing DROZD's autonomy.

Two test demonstrators are planned before the prototype unit is created. The first, nearly two metres long, has already been tested. The final DROZD prototype will be twice the size and is expected to be ready for testing in 2026.

International Defence Industry Exhibition

The results of the first stage of the project were presented during this year's edition of the International Defence Industry Exhibition in Kielce. At the booth of the Air Force Technical Institute (ITWL), an impressive display of the first stage of the project was showcased. The ITWL booth was visited by senior officials from the Ministry of National Defence as well as high-ranking representatives of the Polish Armed Forces. There were also expert meetings discussing the potential applications of the ekranoplan, with a particular focus on special operations tasks.

Enhancing the Effectiveness of Rapid Reaction Forces

The rapidly changing geopolitical situation worldwide, as well as in the Baltic Sea region, necessitates swift changes in security systems at both the strategic and tactical levels. Due to the unpredictability of events, which complicate the rapid quantitative assessment of risks and qualitative safety evaluations by decision-making systems, there is a constant need to develop the capabilities of rapid reaction forces on maritime areas. One of the key elements in ensuring these capabilities is the acquisition of multifunctional ships and marine platforms, including both surface and underwater unmanned platforms, which are integral to rapid response systems at sea. One such platform is the ekranoplan currently under development.

Awards and Recognitions

The project recently won the Second-Level Team Award from the Rector of Gdańsk University of Technology. The project manager also received a distinction from the Dean of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Ship Technology at Gdańsk University of Technology in the Project of the Year category.