A new centre for drone development will also be established under the plans.

Poland will spend PLN200 million (USD53 million) on acquiring new drones and make reforms to drone procurement under efforts to “rapidly saturate” the military with uncrewed systems, a 22 July announcement from Poland’s Ministry of National Defence (MND) has revealed.

Money will go towards both drones and associated training systems, with the figure possibly doubling if domestic industry can deliver, Secretary of State for the MND Cezary Tomczyk said while making the announcement at a meeting in Warsaw.

A simplification of procurement procedures will also be introduced which allows the Polish military to sidestep public procurement laws. The goal here is to make drones “common equipment” for the armed forces, Tomczyk said.

Additionally, Poland will invest in a ‘drone centre’ facility located at Poland’s Air Force Institute of Technology in Warsaw, where Tomczyk made the announcement.

The new centre will be responsible for testing, developing, and deploying uncrewed systems on land, in air, and at sea and will be integrated into NATO’s ‘Rapid Adoption Action Plan’ as an ‘innovation testing ground’. This is part of Poland’s plans to “actively participate” in the testing and implementation of uncrewed dual-use solutions.

Poland will also establish ‘drone laboratories’ within certain military units. Tasks of these laboratories will include the design, assembly, modification, and servicing of drones, including using 3D printing technology.

Tomczyk’s announcement was accompanied by the signing of four agreements and one memorandum of understanding granting new tasks to the Polish military research institutes in attendance, such as the MND’s Innovation Department.

These tasks concern the improvement of tactics, techniques, and procedures regarding uncrewed systems and will also include the design, production, testing, research, and operation of drones.

"We are embarking on a drone revolution. The Polish Armed Forces are entering a new era in which the mass deployment of unmanned systems will become one of the main pillars of our defence", Tomczyk said.

"Ukraine changed everything. Russia's aggression against Ukraine demonstrated the importance of unmanned systems – how they have transformed the modern battlefield and how issues that seemed like technological innovations just a short time ago have now taken over this contemporary conflict”, Tomczyk added.

DSEI Gateway News is part of DSEI UK and the broader Clarion Defence portfolio. 
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