WB Group StormRider 550

History

The WB Group StormRider 550 is a Polish unmanned surface vessel developed as the smaller member of the StormRider family. The modular craft is intended for patrol, reconnaissance, training and strike missions in territorial, inland and port waters.

WB Group publicly presented the StormRider 550 at the MSPO 2026 defence exhibition in Kielce, Poland. The vessel measures 5.5 m in length and is offered in low-profile and high-profile configurations that allow its equipment and sensor package to be adapted to different missions.

The StormRider 550 followed the larger StormRider 850, which had been publicly shown in 2025. Contemporary coverage of the family described the larger vessel as undergoing Baltic Sea testing, while the 550 was introduced in 2026 as a more compact platform for military and civilian applications.

Development and public debut

WB Group introduced the StormRider 550 ahead of and during MSPO 2026. MILMAG described it as an unmanned surface vessel for patrol, reconnaissance, training and strike tasks, with operation planned in territorial waters, inland waters and ports. The same source identified low-profile and high-profile configurations and described the platform as modular.

During the exhibition, Militarnyi reported a length of 5.5 m, an approximate weight of 0.65 tonnes and an outboard propulsion system. The report also gave a maximum speed of about 55 km/h and autonomous operation for up to 24 hours at lower patrol speeds.

The StormRider 550 was one of several WB Group systems making their Kielce debut in 2026. Gazeta Morska described the vessel as a new 5.5 m modular craft positioned for military and civilian users, including protection of critical infrastructure around ports, terminals and coastal installations.

The earlier StormRider platform shown at MSPO 2025 was subsequently identified as the StormRider 850. Breaking Defense reported in 2025 that prototypes of that larger 8.5 m vessel were undergoing testing in the Baltic Sea. These specifications and test details apply to the StormRider 850 and should not be attributed to the smaller StormRider 550.

Design

The StormRider 550 uses a modular architecture intended to support several mission configurations. Its 5.5 m hull is substantially smaller than the StormRider 850. The vessel weighs approximately 0.65 tonnes and is powered by an outboard motor.

Two principal external configurations have been shown. The low-profile configuration minimizes the height of the vessel and is intended for missions where speed, maneuverability, rapid response and a reduced silhouette are important. Its sensor suite can be kept comparatively limited. The high-profile configuration adds a mast and is intended primarily for patrol, reconnaissance and surveillance tasks.

Sensors and mission equipment

The high-profile configuration can carry a navigation radar, sonar and an electro-optical sensor system. These sensors support multisensor surveillance, reconnaissance and patrol missions in coastal waters, ports and inland waterways. The mast configuration is optimized for longer-duration surveillance at relatively low speeds.

Depending on configuration, the vessel can also perform bathymetric surveys, map the seabed, search for underwater objects including mine-like objects, inspect underwater elements of critical infrastructure and support searches for people in the water. Civilian applications include waterside infrastructure surveillance, inspection of hydrotechnical and port facilities and seabed profiling.

Propulsion and endurance

Propulsion is provided by an outboard motor. Reported maximum speed is about 55 km/h, equivalent to approximately 30 knots. Patrol speed is approximately 7–11 km/h, or 4–6 knots. Autonomous operation is reported at up to 24 hours under patrol conditions.

Program status

The StormRider 550 was publicly demonstrated at MSPO in September 2026. Available sources describe it as a newly introduced platform being configured for military, training, security and civilian applications. They do not establish operational service with an armed force or confirm serial production.

WB Group presents the vessel as part of a broader StormRider family. The larger StormRider 850 had already been demonstrated and tested before the 550 appeared. A social-media summary published after the 2026 exhibition also repeated the reported 5.5 m length, approximately 0.65-tonne weight, low- and high-profile configurations, 30-knot maximum speed and up to 24-hour autonomous operation. Drone Wars attributed those figures to the MSPO reporting.

Variants

• Low-profile configuration: Reduced-height configuration intended for missions emphasizing speed, maneuverability, rapid response and a smaller visual profile.
• Training variant: Low-profile configuration intended for realistic personnel training. It can serve as a target for naval weapon crews, support force-protection exercises in ports, roadsteads and anchorages, or train unmanned-vessel operators.
• Interceptor variant: Low-profile configuration intended to intercept and neutralize other unmanned surface vessels through direct kinetic action. Reported concepts include collision with the target or detonation in its immediate vicinity.
• Strike variant: A mission configuration that can be fitted with an explosive warhead. Available sources do not identify a standardized production warhead for the StormRider 550.
• High-profile patrol-reconnaissance configuration: Mast-equipped configuration for patrol, reconnaissance and multisensor surveillance, with available radar, sonar and electro-optical sensors.
• Civilian configuration: Configuration intended for infrastructure protection, port and inland-water patrol, seabed mapping, underwater-object searches and inspection of underwater or waterside infrastructure.

Specifications (StormRider 550)

General characteristics

• Type: Modular unmanned surface vessel
• Length: 5.5 m
• Weight: Approximately 0.65 tonnes
• Propulsion: Outboard motor
• Configurations: Low-profile and high-profile

Performance

• Maximum speed: About 55 km/h (30 kn)
• Patrol speed: About 7–11 km/h (4–6 kn)
• Autonomous operation: Up to 24 hours

Mission equipment

• Navigation sensor: Navigation radar available in patrol and reconnaissance configurations
• Underwater sensor: Sonar available
• Electro-optical sensor: Electro-optical payload available
• Strike equipment: Optional warhead in a strike configuration

Related equipment

• StormRider 850: Larger member of the WB Group StormRider family. It preceded the StormRider 550 in public presentation and uses a substantially larger hull with different propulsion, payload and performance characteristics.