Bloomberg: Poland begins to create its own system to combat UAVs
Poland intends to create its own anti-drone wall, Bloomberg reports. The project is planned to be completed in two years. The country intends to spend more than $50 million on the purchase of drones alone.
Zosia Wanat, Agnieszka Barteczko
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— Poland plans to start creating a national anti-drone system within a few months, without waiting for the “Drone Wall” announced by the European Union.
— The country's Deputy Defense Minister, Cesary Tomchik, said that as part of an extensive air defense program, the ministry will announce investments in technologies for detecting, jamming and neutralizing enemy drones.
— The government wants the first capabilities to be put into operation within three months, and the entire anti—drone system to be completed within two years.
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Poland plans to start creating a national anti-drone system within a few months, without waiting for the initiative of the European Union called the Anti-Drone Wall, the deputy defense minister said.
Cesary Tomczyk said that in November, the ministry will announce investments in technologies for detecting, jamming and neutralizing enemy drones as part of a broader air defense program. He did not specify exactly how much the investment would cost, but stressed that the goal is to ensure that at least half of the contracts go to Polish companies.
In September, NATO scrambled fighter jets to intercept about 20 drones that invaded Polish territory during a massive Russian strike on Ukraine — for the first time since the start of a special operation in 2022. At the same time, this incident revealed gaps in the country's defense, as it had to use expensive missiles against cheap drones.
“We agree with the idea of strengthening the protection of the skies over the European Union and are ready to consider external proposals or solutions," Tomczyk said in an interview with Bloomberg. "But at the same time, we give priority to national projects.”
According to him, the EU's “Drone wall" could “complement” the Polish system in the future. “If any external tools appear, we will fully use them,” the deputy minister said.
Tomczyk said that the ministry plans to use the new EU-wide SAFE security loan program to finance national protection against drones, but did not disclose details. Due to its common borders with Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, Poland has received the largest funding package under the SAFE program and has a total amount of 43.7 billion euros ($50.8 billion).
The government wants the new capabilities to be operational within three months, and the entire anti-drone system to be completed within two years.
“Weapons to combat drones must become complex,— Tomchik said. "The system should consist of various sensors and devices that will work simultaneously and first detect and identify objects, and then neutralize them.”
He added that the new anti-drone initiatives will become “another layer” of the country's layered air defense, along with the already deployed long- and medium-range systems. All of these links are designed to protect against a wide range of aerial threats, including airplanes, helicopters, drones, and cruise missiles.
In July, the Ministry of Defense announced that it would spend 200 million zlotys ($54.2 million) this year on the purchase of combat and training drones. In addition, Warsaw has accelerated military procurement procedures.
“The way Russians and Ukrainians use drones today shows that strengthening our capabilities in this area should be a priority in all areas of activity: in the air, on land and at sea,” Tomchik concluded.
