There could be more akin attacks from Russia. Talk to an expert

– The war in Ukraine has been going on for the 4th year. 2 years ago, Azerbaijan defeated Armenia in the Mountain Karabach War. In both conflicts, drones are crucial. Meanwhile, we are betting on the large and insanely costly American Abrams tanks, which could work more in Berlin's business than in the opposition of the attack from Russia.

“The Russians say that on average 30 drones are needed to destruct 1 Abrams. But it pays off due to the fact that a drone like this costs a dozen, a fewer tens of thousands of dollars and Abrams costs $10 million. I am frequently asked why we do not bet on drone systems – both offensive and defensive, but I cannot answer. Ukrainians are best able to handle drone attacks, but their strategy is not completely sealed.

– no of them are, but on the day of the attack on Poland, Ukrainians shot down over 90% of their drones erstwhile we 14 or 16 percent (according to our data, 19 Russian drones attacked us erstwhile president Zelenski spoke of 22, from which we shot down three).

– Detecting drones that fly at low altitudes, frequently in large groups, and even 1 under the other, by specialized radars is very difficult. On our east border we would gotta set up a dense network, which is virtually unlikely.

– How do Ukrainians do it?

They're creating combined systems. In 1 of them, all Ukrainian has a mobile app with 2 icons: rockets and drones. erstwhile it notices the target, it presses the appropriate icon and this information together with the informant position is transmitted to the center. With millions of cell phones, it's a beautiful efficient system, although, of course, it's not the only one. The Israeli Iron Dome has an efficiency of over 90%, which is very high, but this means that these fewer percent drones or rockets are arriving. Our problem is that we don't introduce drone systems at all. 1 was bought in 2023 and were only 4 SkyControl sets that scope up to 60 kilometres and service to defend airports and another crucial facilities.

– The Ukrainians created these systems based on their own forces.

– In Poland there are 4 private companies that claim to make very good anti-drone systems. All we gotta do is test them in combat conditions. Why aren't our troops utilizing them? I don't know.

– There was news in the media that Ukraine informed Poland that Russian drones were flying towards us, just minutes before they crossed our border.

– But I besides heard they didn't tell us. Let's not repeat rumors from the Internet, due to the fact that any of them may be deliberate misinformation. Let's trust only on authoritative data.

– What about offensive drones?

– specified a strategy is created at the tactical level at brigade level, regiment. Meanwhile, tiny impact drones should be equipped with a single soldier. On the modern battlefield, microdrones with a scope of respective kilometres replace grenades that have a scope of 30, and in case of usage of grenade launchers - 300 metres. Unfortunately, this strategy has not been implemented, even though we have been more than 3 years since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine.

– Against drones worth respective 1000 dollars, the world's best and most costly F-35 fighters were sent. The specified picking up of these planes is worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, not to mention rockets worth more than a million dollars. Did that make sense?

– Of course it did. This decision was made by the operational commander of the Types of Armed Forces Gen. Maciej Klish due to the fact that he felt that there was a major threat. And it was the right thing to do, due to the fact that at a time like this, you don't care about the cost. And the fact that we don't have anti-drone tech is another matter. This action demonstrated the ability of our forces to cooperate with NATO allies' troops, due to the fact that I will remind you that apart from Polish aircraft in the air there were Dutch and German machines. Now it should be discussed whether the measures utilized were optimal to the existing threat.

– We've lost almost 4 years. What should we do now?

– Take the existing systems, see how they work, choose the best, train the operators – but this should be done now, not in a year or six months, but act immediately. We are incapable to usage our existing good solutions and then make them, just looking immediately for optimal abroad solutions, which are frequently not optimal.

– Then let's put it in the points, which you think is the most crucial thing.

– Firstly, anti-drone systems must be introduced; secondly, microdrones must be introduced into the military; thirdly, an electronic combat system. And do it now.

– I hear American and German companies are already volunteering.

No abroad companies. We must do this only on the basis of the Polish industry, primarily private. We are able to manage ourselves, but then we can make the same mistakes as the Ukrainians, which is why it would be best if they helped us due to the fact that they have experience and technology. And I don't think the Ukrainians will refuse us.

– Will there be more akin attacks?

– I'm convinced of that. I predicted this 3 years ago – after the detonation in Więwo on 15 November 2022.