Poland increases air defences by $1.7 billion with a Kongsberg drone-defence purchase
Norwegian defence company, 'Kongsberg Gruppen' announced on Friday that it has won a 16 billion crown order ($1.67billion) from Poland for a?drone defense system. This is part of a larger effort to upgrade Poland's air defence network.
Poland is stepping up its efforts to improve air defences following a Russian drone invasion in September that exposed the vulnerability of the country to spillover effects from the conflict? in neighbouring Ukraine.
"Poland is responsible for all expenses, organizations and everything else that's supposed to be done in order to guarantee security along the eastern border of Poland, Europe, NATO ...,", said the Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk at a Friday conference.
Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa will be the main contractor, while Kongsberg of Norway and Gdynia's APS will also play a key role.
On X, the deputy Polish minister?Cezary Tomczyk stated that the total amount of the program would be 15 billion zlotys (4.244 billion dollars).
In a press release, Kongsberg announced that it would increase its production capacity in Poland in response to the order for Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems.
The contract was signed in partnership with Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa. (PGZ) and includes the delivery of 18 CUAS Batteries.
The collaboration between Kongsberg & PGZ demonstrates the commitment of the two companies to NATO-aligned industry cooperation in order to strengthen the European'security landscape' and anti-drones shield, it stated.
The purchase is part of Poland's East Shield Initiative to strengthen?defences on NATO's Eastern flank. It will be funded?throughout the European Union's SAFE Programme.
The system will include radars to detect hostile targets, as well as several types of effectors designed to neutralise enemy unmanned aerial vehicles.
(source: Reuters)
