The Polish army increased annual spending on drones 260-fold over the past three years to $6.9 billion in 2026, Deputy Defense Minister Cezary Tomczyk said on Thursday.
“In 2023, which is the beginning of our government, 100 million zlotys [$26 .5 million was spent] on drones and anti-drone systems. In 2026, the amount spent is 26 billion zlotys [$6.9 billion] when it comes to drones and anti-drone systems in Poland,” Tomczyk told reporters.
Tomczyk said that Poland would produce Hornet kamikaze drones, which are similar to Iran’s Shaheds. He described the Hornet as an entirely Polish technology.
“All intellectual property rights belong to the Ministry of National Defense, since it is at the Polish Air Force Academy that the project was conceived. Since the very beginning, Polish scientists have been working to make the Polish kamikaze drone a reality,” Tomczyk said.
Tomczyk added that Poland should be in a position to sharply increase the production of such drones if necessary.
The Polish armed forces have been actively acquiring drones of both domestic and foreign origin for various purposes, with Polish enterprises establishing numerous production lines for this type of weaponry.