After Russian drones invade Polish airspace, what defence tech does Poland have in its arsenal?

Poland’s readiness to respond to national security threats is being tested after its military and NATO allies shot down multiple Russian drones over Polish airspace this week.

Poland activated Article 4 of the NATO Treaty in response to the incursion, which the prime minister called an “act of aggression” and Moscow has denied any responsibility for. The move allowed consultations with NATO members to take place on Polish soil, and led to flight suspensions at several airports.

The Polish military said it brought its defence forces to the “highest state of readiness,” according to a post on social media platform X.

Poland has been preparing for such a threat for years. In 2022, it adopted the Homeland Defence Act, which allocated more money to its military forces and opened new targets and paths for military service.

Now, the country spends the most of any NATO country on its military arsenal relative to its economic size. This year, 4.48 percent of its annual gross domestic product (GDP), worth PLN 186.6 billion (€43.8 billion), went to defence spending.

So, which weapons does Poland have to counter possible Russian aggression?

Integrated air and missile defence

Poland is layering its air defences to cover everything from ballistic missiles to low-flying drones.

For example, Polish company Advanced Protection Systems (APS) said it developed the SKYctrl anti-drone system that uses machine learning algorithms to “automatically distinguish between [drones] and birds, reducing false alarms”.

The Military University of Technology in Warsaw said that a joint project with a mechanical plant produced an anti-drone system that can remotely fire a 12.7-millimetre machine gun at up to 3,600 rounds per minute against drones roughly 3.5 kilometres away.

The Polish government said it has an anti-aircraft and anti-missile system known as PATRIOT (WISŁA) embedded in a key military unit for air defence, saying it will counter “short range tactical ballistic missiles,” such as cruise missiles, drones, and piloted air attacks.

The system will eventually use an advanced radar known as the Lower Tier Air and Missile Defence Sensor (LTAMDS) from United States contractor Raytheon, which the company says can defeat hypersonic weapons. It also has a deal with Lockheed Martin’s PAC-3 MSE missiles, which it describes as the “world’s most advanced air defence missile”.

Poland also has two short-range air defence (SHORAD) systems, including the Piorun MANPADS for targets up to 6.5 kilometres away and the NAREW Short-Range Air Defence System, which can hit targets more than 40 kilometres away.

Poland is building another anti-drone system by WB Electronics that has been nicknamed the “Monster”. Local media reported that technical details are classified, but that it can counter small reconnaissance drones and larger weapons systems.

‘We are embarking on a drone revolution’

Poland is also procuring drones from its allies.

In 2024, Poland bought three MQ-9B SkyGuardian Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) from US manufacturer General Atomics, which the company said “will serve as the foundational intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance” platform in Poland.

The drone, an 11.7-metre long craft with a payload capacity of 2,155 kilograms, can fly via satellite for more than 40 hours in all types of weather and through civil airspace, which General Atomics said gives authorities “real-time situational awareness anywhere in the world – day or night”.

In July, the country set aside an additional PLN 200 million (€46.9 million) to purchase drones and training systems, and said it was developing a drone centre at the Air Force Institute of Technology that is responsible for “equipping the military with mini-drones capable of firing fire”.

"We are embarking on a drone revolution,” said Cezary Tomczyk, secretary of state for Poland’s Ministry of National Defence, during the July announcement. “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”.

Long-range strike capabilities

Poland is investing in long-strike weapons that can hit targets up to 300 kilometres away with precision-guided missiles.

The country is investing in the American-made M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launcher and the domestically-produced AHS Krab self-propelled howitzer, which is a type of artillery that fires shells in a high arc.That partnership is with South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace.

The HIMARS launcher has a range of up to 300 kilometres and with future munitions the range should go beyond 499 kilometres, according to manufacturer Lockheed Martin.

Each HIMARS system carries six rockets, two precision strike missiles or one supersonic MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS).

The AHS Krab’s role is to “disable and destroy targets located far behind enemy lines,” according to manufacturer Huta Stalowa Wola (HSW).

Poland is also turning to South Korea for K9 howitzers, with 824 procured in two separate deals with Hanwha Defence in 2022 and 2023. The deals include self-propelled K9 howitzers and K9PLs, according to Reuters.

Hanwha Defence says the K9 self-propelled howitzer, nicknamed “Thunder,” is “the world’s most advanced” weapon of its type because it delivers “consistent, accurate, and rapid effects at ranges of more than 40 kilometres”.

Poland’s expansive tank fleet

Poland is also investing in various types of tanks with the goal of operating around 1,100 tanks by 2030, recently putting more than €6 billion toward 180 South Korean K2 tanks. 

The military will eventually have 360 K2s due to another previous order of 180 tanks, 366 American Abrams tanks, 235 German Leopards, and 150 PT-91 Twardy tanks that were made in the 1990s, according to reporting from Notes from Poland.

The K2 tanks can drive up to 70 kilometres per hour over a range of 450 kilometres, have a 1,500-horsepower engine and are equipped with a 120 millimetre 55 caliber length smoothbore main gun with an auto-loading system, according to manufacturer Hyundai Rotem. ​

In 2022, Poland bought 250 tanks from the US in a deal worth $1.148 billion (€983 million) that was awarded to General Dynamics.

The first units, now in the country, have a 120-millimeter M256 smoothbore cannon that can “fire a variety of different rounds against armoured vehicles, personnel, and even low-flying aircraft,” the company said.

Poland has 247 German Leopard tanks in its arsenal of various types, according to Defense News, including the Leopard 2A4 and 2A5 tanks as well as Leopard 2PL.

The country has already sent some of these tanks to Ukraine because of other deals it has signed with the US and South Korea for their models.

The country refurbished the PT-91 tanks from the 1990s with “modern fire control systems” that helps the gunner and commander to fire faster in day or night conditions, Polish manufacturer Bumar-Łabędy said. The tanks weigh 47.5 tonnes and can roll up to 65 kilometres per hour on the road.