Drone revolution: Poland announces major drone development program
Photo: Poland has announced a large-scale drone development program (Getty Images)
Poland has developed a set of programs that will significantly reshape the country’s military drone strategy. Key steps will be taken toward testing innovative systems and training operators, according to the Polish Ministry of Defense.
"We are entering a drone revolution. The Polish Armed Forces are stepping into a new era, where the mass use of unmanned systems will become one of the main pillars of our defense," said Cezary Tomczyk, State Secretary of the Ministry of National Defense.
Billions for drones
According to him, Poland will allocate 200 million zlotys this year for drone procurement, with half of the funds going toward training systems. He also emphasized the possibility of doubling funding if the domestic industry is ready to supply them.
"Ukraine is our starting point. Ukraine has changed everything. Russia’s aggression against Ukraine has shown the importance of unmanned systems," Tomczyk added.
Simplification of procurement
Tomczyk also announced the simplification of procurement procedures. The military will be allowed to purchase drones that successfully pass testing without being subject to the provisions of the Public Procurement Law.
"After testing and evaluation, the military will be able to purchase systems they consider suitable. Our goal is to make unmanned systems an everyday weapon," he added.
Ukrainian experience
Referring to lessons from the war in Ukraine, Tomczyk announced the establishment of a Drone Center based at the Air Force Technology Institute.
The new center will be responsible for testing, developing, and deploying unmanned systems on land, in the air, and at sea. The initiative will operate under the codename Szerszeń (Hornet).
"The Drone Center is a place where military institutions, the Polish Army, companies, and specialized units will come together to deliver the best unmanned systems to the army in one place and in a short time," he said.
Poland upgrades its military
Poland, a NATO member, allocates the highest percentage of its GDP to defense — this year, 4.7% of the national budget has been allocated for the military. Previously, a significant portion of defense spending went toward purchasing weapons from abroad, particularly from the United States and South Korea.
Now, Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s government is shifting its focus to domestic production, in line with broader European efforts to reduce reliance on the US and other foreign military suppliers.
It was previously reported that Poland plans to increase its domestic production of howitzer shells fivefold to reduce dependency on imported weapons and strengthen its defense against the Russian threat.
