Poland Fits New Bóbr 3 Reconnaissance Vehicle With Anti-Drone Cage as FPV Threats Reshape Warfare.

AMZ-Kutno has displayed its Bóbr 3 4x4 armored reconnaissance vehicle at MSPO with an anti-drone cage designed to reduce vulnerability to FPV attacks. The configuration combines added protection with the sensor and networking architecture being introduced on Poland’s Kleszcz reconnaissance fleet.

At the 34th MSPO defense exhibition in Kielce, AMZ-Kutno is presenting its Bóbr 3 armored reconnaissance vehicle in a configuration fitted with an anti-drone protection cage. Held from September 8 to 11, 2026, MSPO is one of Europe’s main events dedicated to military equipment, procurement programs, and cooperation between defense manufacturers. The presence of the Bóbr 3 comes as Poland continues to renew its reconnaissance fleet, with Soviet-origin BRDM-2 vehicles gradually being replaced by the new LOTR Kleszcz generation. The configuration shown in Kielce also reflects developments linked to lessons from the war in Ukraine, where light armored vehicles are increasingly fitted with slat structures or cages intended to reduce their vulnerability to FPV drones and loitering munitions.

For more developments from Poland, see our MSPO 2026 coverage.

The Bóbr 3 armored reconnaissance vehicle displayed at MSPO 2026 features a cage protection system intended to reduce vulnerability to FPV drone attacks. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

Before the exhibition opened, AMZ-Kutno had announced that its 6Z-04 display area would feature a Bóbr 3 equipped with anti-drone protection. The cage is a stand-off structure installed around the vehicle’s most exposed upper and side areas, rather than an attempt to convert a reconnaissance platform into a heavily armored vehicle. A similar arrangement had already been observed on the Kleszcz during rehearsals for the Polish Armed Forces Day parade in August 2026. Its main purpose is to complicate attacks by FPV drones carrying shaped-charge warheads, which can be directed against the roof, hatches, or engine compartment. A cage or net may alter the impact angle or cause detonation at a distance from the main armor. Its effectiveness nevertheless depends on the level of coverage, added weight, and continued access to the vehicle’s sensors and equipment.

The Bóbr 3 is based on a 4x4 amphibious architecture. Published specifications indicate a 7.2-liter six-cylinder diesel engine producing 240 kW and connected to an automatic transmission. Road speed reaches around 90 km/h, while the vehicle can move through water at approximately 7 km/h and has a road range of about 600 km. Protection is stated at STANAG 4569 Level 2, with provision for an upgrade to Level 3, while Level 2A mine protection is also cited. These characteristics reflect the usual balance required for a reconnaissance platform, which must retain mobility and a relatively low profile while providing enough protection for a crew expected to operate ahead of the main formations.

The reconnaissance mission now depends heavily on onboard sensors. The Polish Kleszcz configuration combines a tactical battlefield surveillance radar with an electro-optical head, allowing collected information to be processed and transmitted to higher command levels. ASELSAN’s ARSUS 100 system adds a stabilized mast carrying radar and electro-optical and infrared sensors for day and night surveillance, target detection, identification, and automatic tracking. It can also provide coordinates for fire-support missions and interface with C4I networks, turning the vehicle into a mobile reconnaissance and target-acquisition node.

This architecture also forms part of a broader Polish-Turkish industrial partnership. During MSPO 2026, ASELSAN announced a contract for 24 additional ARSUS reconnaissance and surveillance systems for Poland, with deliveries scheduled for 2028 and 2029. AMZ-Kutno integrates these systems onto its Kleszcz armored reconnaissance vehicles, which are developed from the company’s Bóbr 3 4x4 chassis. The cooperation follows a 2024 contract covering radar and electro-optical systems, as well as the delivery of the first ARSUS 100 mast-mounted system in November 2025. Their integration into the Kleszcz indicates that Warsaw is not only replacing an older platform but also moving ground reconnaissance toward a more networked architecture in which rapid target acquisition and data transmission play a central role.

The program is also moving into series production. Poland signed a framework agreement in February 2024 covering 286 Kleszcz vehicles to be delivered through 2035. A first implementation contract includes 28 vehicles for delivery between 2026 and 2028 at a value of about PLN 800 million, while an agreement signed in May 2026 adds 24 vehicles intended for K2GF and K2PL tank battalions for approximately PLN 570 million excluding tax. The fleet is expected to gradually replace vehicles from the BRDM-2 family and improve the flow of reconnaissance data into Polish command-and-control structures.

The Bóbr 3 and Kleszcz are designed to operate close enough to the line of contact to detect enemy movement, identify targets, and transmit coordinates without remaining stationary for extended periods. The amphibious hull expands route options around rivers and flooded terrain, while mast-mounted sensors allow observation from partially concealed positions. The anti-drone cage addresses a threat that is now persistent across the battlefield. Reconnaissance vehicles are relatively light, carry numerous exposed systems, and often need to occupy forward positions, making them attractive targets for FPV drones. This type of stand-off protection therefore has to be combined with dispersion, camouflage, electronic warfare, and frequent movement.

The configuration presented at MSPO illustrates how Poland is adapting its land programs to operational lessons observed in Ukraine. Warsaw is combining a domestically produced platform, Turkish sensors, and protection measures designed to address the widespread use of drones within a single reconnaissance system. The approach also broadens Poland’s industrial partnerships while keeping vehicle integration within the country. On NATO’s eastern flank, the Kleszcz is intended to provide mechanized and armored formations with a more mobile and connected detection capability in an environment where the speed of the cycle between detection, transmission, and engagement is becoming as important as the protection level of the vehicle itself.

Written By Erwan Halna du Fretay - Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Erwan Halna du Fretay holds a Master’s degree in International Relations and has experience studying conflicts and global arms transfers. His research interests lie in Security and strategic studies, particularly the dynamics of the defense industry, the evolution of military technologies, and the strategic transformation of armed forces.