The decision comes after increased threats from Russia and recent cases of Russian drones violating Polish airspace. Deputy Defense Minister Cezary Tomczyk said that the first capabilities will be ready within six months, while the full system will be completed within two years.
Poland has announced an ambitious plan to build a modern anti-drone defense system along its eastern border. The decision comes after growing threats from Russia and recent incidents of Russian drones violating Polish airspace. Deputy Defense Minister Cezary Tomczyk said the first capabilities would be ready within six months, with the full system to be completed within two years.
This protective “wall” will include:
– Multi-barreled machine guns and anti-aircraft guns;
– Missile systems for hitting flying objects;
– Electronic equipment for jamming drone signals.
According to the Polish official, the system will be integrated with existing defenses, creating several layers of security to prevent Russian provocations aimed at “testing” NATO’s readiness.
The project will cost around 2 billion euros. Most of the money will come from European funds through defense programs, while the rest will come from the Polish state budget. In addition to drone defense, Poland is also continuing work on the “Eastern Shield,” a series of land fortifications on the border with Belarus and the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad, to prevent any attempts at land invasion.
Since the start of the war in Ukraine, Poland has significantly increased its defense spending, reaching 4.7% of its gross domestic product (GDP), the highest in the European Union. “As long as Ukraine is protected, Europe is not in danger of a conventional war, but we will face provocations and acts of sabotage,” Tomczyk said. He added that if the West allows Russia to win in Ukraine, the Kremlin will soon turn its attention to the rest of Europe. In addition to investing in weapons, the Polish state is training hundreds of thousands of citizens in survival skills and has opened voluntary military training programs for the population.