PIRANIA underwater inspection vehicle: Gdańsk University of Technology and Radmor join forces

Gdańsk University of Technology (GUT) and Radmor, a member of the WB Group, have signed a consortium agreement to develop the PIRANIA underwater inspection vehicle. The project aims to deliver a modern unmanned system designed for monitoring critical subsea infrastructure, including pipelines, power cables and telecommunications links. The solution will be based on Polish engineering expertise and the combined capabilities of the national maritime and defence sectors.

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23 january 2026   |   18:04   |   Source: Gazeta Morska   |   Prepared by: Kamil Kusier   |   Print

fot. WB Group

The agreement was formally signed on 23 January at the Senate Hall of Gdańsk University of Technology. Under the consortium framework, a PIRANIA prototype will be developed at the university, integrating GUT’s research and engineering capabilities with communication and electronic systems provided by Radmor, the WB Group’s competence centre for maritime unmanned systems.

– As a research university, we aim to be not only a centre of science and education, but also an active technological hub that provides tangible support to the Polish economy and national defence. The PIRANIA project is an excellent example of this strategy in action. It marks another step in strengthening cooperation between academia and the defence industry – said Prof. Krzysztof Wilde, Rector of Gdańsk University of Technology.

For the WB Group, the cooperation represents a continuation of its engagement in maritime security solutions, particularly in the area of protecting critical underwater infrastructure.

– This is another agreement between the WB Group and Gdańsk University of Technology, expanding our existing cooperation into new areas related to national security and the protection of critical infrastructure. This is especially important at a time when our borders and key assets are exposed to hybrid threats and constant pressure – said Bartłomiej Zając, President of Radmor.

Technical implementation of the project is being led by the Deepwater Technology Laboratory at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Ship Technology. A key role in establishing the consortium was played by the GUT Business Hub, the university unit responsible for strengthening cooperation with industry and supporting technology transfer.

– We have unique competences in marine engineering. Following the success of our combat systems, the time has come for technologies that protect what is invisible yet vital to the functioning of the state – critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea. By combining the scientific potential of Gdańsk University of Technology with the industrial capabilities of the WB Group, we are creating a next-generation technological shield – Prof. Wilde added.

– I am confident that the advanced technologies and engineering solutions developed jointly will enhance national security. This agreement is an excellent example of synergy between leading industrial and academic centres, resulting in systems designed to protect underwater installations that are critical to the functioning of the state – Zając emphasised.

The selection of Gdańsk University of Technology as a project partner is no coincidence. The university has an extensive track record in the development and deployment of maritime systems. Among the solutions developed in Gdańsk is the Głuptak mine countermeasure system, currently in service aboard Kormoran II-class minehunters. PIRANIA builds on these capabilities, shifting the operational focus from mine neutralisation to continuous monitoring and preventive protection of subsea pipelines and fibre-optic cables.

The WB Group is a European manufacturer with global reach. It is a leading supplier of advanced command, control and communications systems and one of the world’s largest providers of unmanned systems. Since 1997, the Group has delivered advanced IT, communications, reconnaissance and unmanned solutions to the Polish Armed Forces and international customers, playing a significant role in the modernisation of contemporary armed forces.

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