Farada Group, a portfolio company of JRH ASI S.A., listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange, has signed a cooperation agreement with Łukasiewicz – Warsaw Institute of Technology. The agreement marks the start of cooperation in the field of unmanned maritime systems and may open the way for the commercialization and international sale of the Polish Manta USV maritime drone.
The document was signed during the second day of Defence24 Days. On behalf of Łukasiewicz – Warsaw Institute of Technology, the agreement was signed by the Institute’s Director, Dr. hab. Grzegorz Gudzbeler. Farada Group was represented by its CEO, Szymon Kupaj.
Under the agreement, the parties will exchange information needed to develop a commercialization model for the Manta USV and assess possible forms of its sale and distribution outside Poland. Farada Group, which has international experience and a network of foreign partners in the unmanned systems sector, is expected to support the Institute in preparing the solution for entry into global markets.
The Manta USV is a compact unmanned surface platform being developed at Łukasiewicz – Warsaw Institute of Technology. It is designed for continuous monitoring of critical infrastructure, including offshore wind farms, fuel sector installations, and areas important for the military and public services such as the Border Guard.
The platform measures 180 by 70 cm and uses glass composites as well as hydrofoil technology. Hydrofoils are submerged lifting surfaces that raise the hull above the water, which significantly reduces the vessel’s wake even at speeds of up to 30 knots. The drone can operate remotely, semi-autonomously or autonomously.
According to the company, the platform is resistant to electronic interference. If communication is lost, it automatically settles on its hydrofoils and waits for the connection to be restored or continues the mission autonomously.
“Farada Group, in addition to aerial drones, is currently a manufacturer of hovercraft based on a licence from the Łukasiewicz Research Network – Institute of Aviation. Now, thanks to this agreement, we are entering the unmanned maritime segment,” said Szymon Kupaj, co-founder and CEO of Farada Group.
He added that the company is building an offer covering unmanned systems and special vehicles operating in different environments. In his view, this increases Farada Group’s ability to respond to the needs of commercial clients, the defence sector and crisis management services.
“The Polish Manta USV water drone is an innovative solution based on Polish technical expertise. We want to use our export experience to help open foreign markets for it,” Kupaj said.
The cooperation with Łukasiewicz – Warsaw Institute of Technology is part of Farada Group’s broader development model, in which partnerships with Polish research and development institutions play an important role.
In March 2026, the company signed an agreement with the Military Institute of Armament Technology to develop the WARTOWNIK system. The system is intended to monitor and protect strategically important areas using aerial drones. Farada Group also received an invitation to participate in field tests at the Autonomous Systems Centre of the Polish Armed Forces.
January Ciszewski, main shareholder and CEO of JRH ASI S.A., said the agreement is another step in the development of Farada Group and confirms that the strategy behind the emerging ORBITEO holding is translating into concrete projects.
“Farada is consistently expanding its range of competences and is now moving beyond the aerial systems segment. Cooperation with the Institute around the Manta USV drone opens the company’s path to a new and promising market area, while Polish unmanned technologies gain another opportunity for commercialization abroad,” Ciszewski said.
Farada Group is one of the pillars of ORBITEO, a technology holding being organized by JRH ASI S.A. The holding is intended to integrate Polish companies operating in the space, defence, artificial intelligence and deeptech sectors.
As part of ORBITEO, Farada Group cooperates, among others, with SatRev. The companies are developing joint solutions that combine competences in unmanned systems and space technologies.
Farada Group is a Polish technology company specializing in the design, production and integration of advanced unmanned aerial systems for civilian and military applications. Its technologies are used in reconnaissance, logistics, inspection and critical infrastructure protection missions. According to the company, their effectiveness has also been verified in real conditions of armed conflict.
