Poland is building Europe's largest anti-drone system to bolster its borders
In an unprecedented strategic move aimed at reshaping the security landscape of Europe, Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kościaniak-Kamic announced that his country is close to signing a landmark contract to build the largest anti-drone system in Europe . This announcement comes as part of a comprehensive plan to fortify Poland's eastern borders, which represent NATO's first line of defense against escalating tensions with Russia and Belarus.
Details of the largest defense project
The Polish minister confirmed that the contract, expected to be signed by the end of January, will be with an international consortium of specialized companies, formed specifically to meet an "urgent operational need." While the names of all the companies in the consortium have not been officially disclosed, reports indicate that Polish technologies will be combined with international expertise to ensure the system's effectiveness.
Kosiniak-Kamicz explained to the newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza that negotiations between the Polish Armaments Agency and the consortium have been completed, paving the way for immediate implementation. This system aims to create a "protective dome" or integrated shield covering the eastern border, with a previously estimated cost of approximately two billion euros, reflecting the massive investment Warsaw is making in its defense sector.
Geopolitical context: Why now?
This announcement cannot be separated from the volatile regional context. Poland occupies a sensitive geographical position, sharing borders with Ukraine, which is facing an ongoing Russian invasion, as well as with Russia (via the Kaliningrad enclave) and Belarus. The war in Ukraine has transformed drones into a key weapon in modern warfare, making the development of countermeasures a top priority for Polish national security.
Polish airspace has already witnessed several air intrusions since the outbreak of the war, increasing the urgency of the need for a sophisticated detection and interception system capable of dealing with small, low-altitude targets that are difficult for conventional radars to detect.
Strengthening military capabilities and defense spending
Poland currently leads NATO countries in defense spending as a percentage of GDP, allocating approximately 5% of its GDP to this purpose, surpassing even the United States in this respect. The new system relies on a hybrid strategy that includes:
- Diverse weapons: Combining electronic jamming systems with kinetic interceptor weapons.
- International partnerships: The minister pointed to cooperation with the Norwegian company Kongsberg, in addition to a previous contract with the American Andorel Group, indicating Warsaw’s orientation towards the latest Western technologies.
- Supporting local industry: Relying primarily on local suppliers to ensure the independence of supply chains.
Cooperation with Ukraine and exchange of experiences
In addition to bolstering its own defenses, Poland continues to play a pivotal role in supporting Kyiv. Warsaw recently offered to transfer its remaining Soviet-era MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine, a move that reflects the depth of the alliance between the two countries. In return, Poland is keenly interested in benefiting from Ukraine's extensive experience in drone technology, which has developed remarkably during the four years of war, making this cooperation a win-win situation for both sides in strengthening common European security.
