Poland becomes the leader of the first anti-drone wall in Europe. Today, a contract was signed for the SAN strategy to defend key areas and the east border of the state. The first elements will be in the army this year. This is simply a historical moment. We are building any of the best protected borders in Europe," said Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
The contract signed present at the PIT-RADWAR office in Kobyłka concerns the supply of 18 anti-aircraft modules of the SAN system, which is to defend the east border of the Republic of Poland from unmanned air systems. The agreement was concluded between the State Treasury – the Armed Forces Agency and the consortium with the leader, i.e. Polish Armed Forces Group, and technology partner from Norway – Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace.
As Prime Minister Donald Tusk stressed during the signing ceremony, this is simply a historical minute for Polish air defence and NATO as a whole. – The Polish east border will be safe not only on the ground. We are building any of the best protected borders in Europe. We do this not to attack, but to avoid aggression," said the head of the government and added that the SAN strategy is simply a consequence to real threats. – We watched what happened in the Ukrainian sky. This is why it was so crucial that the Polish east Shield besides protected the Polish sky. The SAN programme is simply a applicable expression of the fresh safety architecture of NATO and Europe," said Tusk.
SAN – a pioneer shield for heaven
The SAN strategy consists of 18 battery modules, each equipped with 3 fire platoons and 1 support platoon capable of independent detection, recognition and neutralisation of air threats. The platoons include: WLKM 12.7 mm multi-barrel device guns with Tarnów Mechanical Plant (so-called Monster of Tarnowa), 30 and 35 mm scale cannons (PIT-RADWAR, Kongsberg), 70 mm scale rocket (APKWS), interference and designation systems (APS), radars and optoelectronic sensors.
– I am peculiarly impressed by “The Monster of Tarnów”. It can be utilized both in the air and on the ground. It is an component of the Polish contribution to the SAN strategy and to the full defence of heaven. There is no specified example in Europe," said Prime Minister Tusk. Hence the natural interest in Polish equipment from many countries, as the head of the MON spoke about during the conference. – The SAN strategy is the innovative, first in Europe anti-drone complex: 18 batteries, 52 fire platoons, 18 command platoons and over 700 vehicles, including 400 on the basis of Jelcz and 300 on the basis of Legwan. The capabilities of the Polish arms manufacture thanks to the San program will be many times larger, due to the fact that not 1 equipment, but the sum of the impact, the full system, many batteries, the full doctrine will be our export product – said Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz.
“The Monster of Tarnow” in a fresh Role
One of the most characteristic elements of the SAN strategy will be the WLKM multi-barrel device weapon of 12.7 mm caliber, manufactured at the Mechanical Plant “Tarns” SA. This weapon, known as “The Monster of Tarnów”, was designed to combat tiny and very tiny air targets at short distances.
Thanks to its velocity shooting, WLKM importantly increases the probability of hitting drones moving at advanced speed. In the SAN system, it will be integrated with sensors and fire control systems, and the full will be placed on the Legwan 4 x 4 vehicles. The inclusion of the “Tarnov Monster” in the series production and its usage in the fresh air defence strategy confirms the increasing function of Tarnowskie plants as 1 of the pillars of national anti-aircraft defence of very short range.
Polish safety industry
The SAN task involves the main companies of the home arms industry. The leader is the Polish Armed Forces Group, which coordinates the production of key components of the system, and its companies supply as many as 60% of the elements of the set. Apart from Tarnów Mechanic Plant, the task is besides attended by PIT-RADWAR – maker of radars and command systems, Rosomak – maker of vehicles Legwan 4 x 4, Jelcz, who will supply specialized chassis, Huta Stalowa Wola, Mesko and Advanced Protection Systems from Gdynia. “This is an example of how the most modern defence systems are created in Poland. It is the Polish method thought and the Polish manufacture in the service of national security", said Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
Polish companies not only supply equipment, but they co-create the full SAN ecosystem: from radars and designation systems, through command stations, to integrated kinetic and non-kinetic effects. This means that all component of the anti-drone wall was designed and manufactured in Poland, with the anticipation of fast modernization and expansion. “We want investments in defence to affect the Polish economy. This is our dual-use patent. The money works double and triple: for the safety of Poland, for the improvement of manufacture and for the Polish method thought. This is simply a real strengthening of our defence sovereignty," added the head of government.
Record tempo
The SAN programme is not only innovative but besides unprecedented. The first 3 fire platoons of the first battery will go to the Armed Forces of Poland this year, and all 18 strategy batteries are to be delivered within 2 years of signing the contract. specified a fast pace is possible thanks to the coordination of the full Polish defence manufacture by the Polish Armed Forces Group. “Participation in this task and taking full work for its implementation is the quintessential function of the PGZ-et as the leader of the Polish arms manufacture and integrator of national capabilities in the service of national security”, says the president of PGZ-et. Adam Leszkiewicz.
The Polish Armed Forces Group is liable for coordinating production of key components, integration of Polish companies into subsidiaries and abroad partners, including Norwegian Kongsberg. As a result, the SAN task is an example of the rapid, efficient and full national production of an anti-aircraft defence strategy which has no precedent in Europe. “This is simply a large commitment, but besides a proof of the competence and innovation of our plants”, adds Leszkiewicz.
Such a comprehensive production organisation allows not only the fast implementation of the system, but besides the flexible improvement of its capacity in the future, while maintaining full control over technology and production. “The Polish Armed Forces Group shows that the home arms manufacture can respond to the most challenging challenges in NATO. It is simply a warrant that the SAN programme will be implemented in time, efficiently and with the full scope of Polish competences,” stressed Vice president Arkadiusz Bąk.
The east border of Poland will be equipped with a shield that not only responds to threats, but besides provides a model for Europe as a whole. This solution is peculiarly crucial in the context of night events from 9 to 10 September 2025, erstwhile Russian drones violated Polish airspace. This incidental has shown that threats are real and that effective measures are needed to defend the low ceiling. The SAN strategy is intended to constitute a barrier to the recurrence of specified events. As Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz stressed, Poland has achieved a higher level of military spending of 5% of GDP than another countries and will likewise happen to the production of anti-drone systems, which will meet the work to guarantee that 50% of military equipment expenditure remains in the Polish defence industry. This means that investments in defence work simultaneously for national security, industrial improvement and innovation in the Polish technology sector.
