Poland Teams Up with Kongsberg-PGZ for Cutting-Edge Anti-Drone Defense System

WARSAW, Poland — The Polish Ministry of National Defence has inked an agreement with a coalition consisting of Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace from Norway and the Polish government-controlled defense entity PGZ for the procurement of anti-drone systems aimed at safeguarding Poland’s skies.

This acquisition is a response to the repeated incursions into Polish airspace by Russian drones, which are part of the broader military actions by Russia in Ukraine.

The agreement, which was finalized on January 30 with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz in attendance, sets the stage for the creation of the San anti-drone system. The system is valued at approximately PLN 15 billion ($4.2 billion), with initial deliveries expected in 2026.

“The configuration includes 18 anti-drone batteries, 52 firing platoons, and 18 command platoons with a total of 703 vehicles, roughly 400 of which will utilize the Jelcz military truck base, and 300 will use the Legwan light reconnaissance vehicle platform. This comprehensive setup will equip us to effectively counter aerial threats from the east,” explained Kosiniak-Kamysz at the signing event.

Kosiniak-Kamysz also highlighted the critical incidents from September last year when Russian UAVs breached Polish airspace, prompting a quick response from Polish and allied forces, including the deployment of F-35 jets to intercept the intruding drones.

“The night between September 9 and 10, 2025, marked a significant shift when Russian drones first trespassed into NATO territory. It was a moment of reckoning about our defense capabilities. Developing this system involved extensive research and integration to ensure its effective operation,” he added.

The deputy prime minister described the San system, named after a river in eastern Poland, as a complex and layered defense network, crafted in collaboration with both domestic and international partners including APS from Gdynia and Norway’s Kongsberg.

Kongsberg’s portion of the contract is valued at about NOK 16 billion ($1.66 billion). The Norwegian firm stated that the supplied units will include a diverse array of weaponry such as 35mm, 30mm, and 12.7mm guns, missiles, interceptor drones, and other defensive solutions, all part of Kongsberg’s Protector family which includes the Medium Caliber Turret (MCT30) and the Remote Weapon Station.

“This deal not only underscores Poland’s role as a pivotal center for anti-drone technology in the region but also enhances Kongsberg’s standing as a leading European provider of such technologies,” stated Eirik Lie, president of Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace.

Prime Minister Tusk remarked that Kongsberg’s role in the consortium reflects Poland’s strategic appreciation of Norwegian expertise as pivotal to the new security framework that the country is advocating, particularly in light of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

He noted that Poland is actively seeking to enhance its military alliances with the Baltic and Scandinavian nations, citing the recent selection of Sweden’s Saab A26 Blekinge submarine in November 2025 as a testament to this new strategic direction.

PGZ announced that approximately 60% of the San system’s components will be supplied by its affiliated companies, with the full delivery of the system projected to complete within 24 months from the contract signing date.

The SAN initiative is a critical component of Poland’s strategy to enhance its aerial defense capabilities. Alongside SAN, the ministry has procured Common Anti-air Modular Missiles (CAMM) and iLaunchers from the European consortium MBDA, as well as Pilica+ very-short-range air defense systems from local manufacturers, complementing the Wisła mid-range air defense system acquired earlier.

Deputy Prime Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz emphasized that the total expenditure on upgrading air defense would be around PLN 250 billion, potentially marking it as the largest procurement effort in Polish military history.

For 2026, Poland has allocated a defense budget of PLN 200.1 billion, an increase from the previous year’s PLN 186.6 billion, which will account for over 4.8% of the nation’s GDP. A significant portion of the funding for these new military assets, including the San program, will come from approximately €44 billion ($51 billion) in low-cost loans awarded under the European Union’s Security Action For Europe (SAFE) initiative.