Breaking News
MSPO 2025: Polish Oncilla 4x4 upgrade for Ukraine combines firepower improved mobility and layered drone protection.
During MSPO 2025 in Kielce, Poland, the company MISTA Sp. z o.o. unveiled an upgraded version of its Oncilla 4x4 armored personnel carrier, marking a significant development for modern land warfare. Against the backdrop of evolving threats in Ukraine and Eastern Europe, this presentation highlights how lighter armored platforms are being transformed into multi-role vehicles. With enhanced firepower, electronic warfare systems, and physical counter-drone protection, the Oncilla represents the convergence of mobility and survivability. Its integration into the Ukrainian armed forces is expected to address pressing operational needs on the frontlines.
The unveiling of the Oncilla 4x4 upgrade in Kielce is therefore more than a product presentation. It reflects a shift in how armored vehicles are conceived, moving beyond protection and mobility to integrate electronic warfare and drone defenses as core design feature (Picture source: Army Recognition Group)
The Oncilla 4x4 is presented as a compact but resilient armored personnel carrier capable of transporting six soldiers in addition to its three crew members. Built on the foundation of the Ukrainian Dozor-B design, the Polish upgrade emphasizes reliability and combat readiness. The vehicle is powered by a Deutz diesel engine delivering 190 horsepower, paired with a six-speed transmission and independent torsion bar suspension. This combination ensures off-road mobility and the ability to maneuver across varied terrains, while the central tire inflation system and run-flat tires enhance resilience during operations. Protection levels are aligned with STANAG 4569 standards, ranging from Level 2 frontal protection to Level 3 with modular add-on armor. Comfort systems, including air conditioning, filtration, and automatic fire suppression, underline the vehicle’s adaptation for sustained operations in extreme conditions.
A key element of the upgrade is the remote-controlled weapon station NK 14.5/7.62, turning the Oncilla into more than a simple troop transport. Equipped with a 14.5 mm KPBT heavy machine gun and a 7.62 mm PKT machine gun, it provides a balance between anti-armor and anti-personnel firepower. Stabilization and guidance systems allow firing on the move, while the integration of 81 mm grenade launchers extends tactical flexibility with smoke screening or close-range defensive options. Compared with earlier iterations of light APCs, this armament significantly narrows the gap with infantry fighting vehicles, positioning the Oncilla as a hybrid solution able to deliver fire support while maintaining troop mobility.
In parallel to offensive capability, the Oncilla integrates two layers of defense against one of the most disruptive elements of current conflicts: FPV drones. The protective mesh system known as TULLE adds a physical barrier that intercepts drones before they strike, either deflecting them or neutralizing their fuses. Lightweight and standardized with a NATO stock number, it can be easily mounted and scaled across different vehicle types. While similar to improvised “cope cages” observed in Ukraine, TULLE represents a more engineered and reliable approach, minimizing vulnerability to low-cost but lethal aerial threats.
Complementing this passive protection, the AURA electronic warfare device offers an active countermeasure. By jamming drone control signals across multiple frequency bands, it creates a localized protective bubble of up to 400 meters around the vehicle. Operating autonomously with minimal delay, it ensures rapid response against drone swarms or loitering munitions. While its range is limited, when combined with the TULLE mesh it provides a layered defense that mirrors broader NATO approaches to counter-drone warfare. This dual system of electronic disruption and physical interception is particularly relevant to the Ukrainian battlefield, where drones have proven decisive in both reconnaissance and strike roles.
The advantages of this upgraded Oncilla lie in its balance of mobility, firepower, and survivability. Unlike heavier infantry fighting vehicles such as the American Bradley or German Puma, it remains lighter and easier to deploy, with lower logistical demands. Yet through the RCWS and counter-drone systems, it closes the performance gap in terms of protection and lethality. Strategically, this makes it well-suited to Ukraine’s needs, where attrition warfare requires vehicles that can be produced, maintained, and fielded in significant numbers without overreliance on complex supply chains.
From a geopolitical perspective, the presence of the upgraded Oncilla at MSPO 2025 underscores Poland’s role as both a hub for defense innovation and a critical partner for Ukraine. The vehicle is designed not only to reinforce Ukrainian forces in the near future but also to showcase how Central European industry adapts to modern threats. By combining Western components with battlefield-driven innovations like TULLE and AURA, MISTA positions the Oncilla as an exportable solution for nations facing similar challenges from drone proliferation and hybrid warfare.
The unveiling of the Oncilla 4x4 upgrade in Kielce is therefore more than a product presentation. It reflects a shift in how armored vehicles are conceived, moving beyond protection and mobility to integrate electronic warfare and drone defenses as core design features. For Ukraine, its future integration into the armed forces promises a platform adapted to the realities of the current war, while for the broader defense community, it signals the accelerating convergence of traditional armored systems with counter-drone technologies.