Poland starts mass production of 10,000 anti-drone missiles to counter Shahed attacks in Europe
Illustrative photo: drone operators at work (Getty Images)
Poland plans to launch serial production of the Mark 1 short-range air defense missile, designed to counter drones, according to the Polish defense giant PGZ.
In Poland, a full-scale "anti-Shahed production line" is being established, capable of producing up to 10,000 missiles per year. This project represents a radical European response to the massive drone attacks that Russia uses to terrorize Ukraine and threaten NATO borders.
It has been reported that the strategic agreement for mass production of Mark 1 anti-drone missiles was signed between the Polish defense giant PGZ and the Estonian technology company Frankenburg Technologies.
Why Mark 1 will change the game
The main challenge for air defense so far has been cost: shooting down a $20,000 drone with a $200,000 missile is a path to budget exhaustion. The Estonian-developed Mark 1 is designed to break this logic. It is the world’s first mass-produced, affordable solution operating on a "fire and forget" principle.
First, Mark 1 will have intelligent guidance. Its optoelectronic seeker allows the missile to independently "hunt" the target without operator intervention.
Second, its innovative 500-gram warhead uses glass fragments, which are far more effective against light drone frames of class 3 drones (such as Shaheds) than traditional metal.
Operational characteristics:
- Engages targets at distances up to 2 km and altitudes up to 1.5 km
- Solid-fuel engine provides instant interception
Ukraine – the first testing ground
Between April and June 2026, Mark 1 will undergo combat trials in Ukraine. The results of tests against real Russian drones will form the basis for serial production in Poland.
As part of the partnership, development of the next Mark II version is planned, with a range of 5–8 km, which will enhance layered air defense capabilities. This will allow the creation of a dense "iron dome" over strategic facilities and cities, making massive drone attacks ineffective.
Launching production at this scale in Poland effectively establishes a European hub for anti-drone security, where the quantity and affordability of missiles will finally outweigh the number of enemy drones.
It is worth noting that the CEO of the state defense cluster Brave1 announced the launch of sales for new unmanned aerial systems X1 Jet and X2 Jet on the company’s marketplace, highlighting their unique capabilities and record speed among Ukrainian drones.
In addition, the Ukrainian company WIY Drones, together with the German corporation Quantum Systems, has upgraded the STRILA-2 interceptor drone.
