Poland has formalized a $1.65-billion (NOK 16-billion) procurement deal with a Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace–PGZ consortium for next-generation counter-UAS capabilities, marking a major step in strengthening defences against the rapidly evolving drone threat.
Signed under the San air defence initiative, the contract calls for 18 counter-drone batteries based on Kongsberg’s Protector remote-controlled weapon stations. The batteries will integrate a mix of kinetic and non-kinetic effectors—including guns, missiles, and interceptor drones—to deliver a multi-layered defensive architecture.
Advanced Protection Systems, a PGZ subcontractor, will lead the command-and-control segment of the programme, overseeing sensor and effector integration while ensuring compatibility with Poland’s current and planned air defence systems.
Designed for versatility, the Protector family supports operation from land and naval platforms in both stationary and mobile roles. The range includes the MCT30 Medium Calibre Turret as well as the RS4 and RS6 remote weapon stations, each optimized for specific operational demands.
Its modular design enables remote control of diverse weapon payloads, spanning small-calibre weapons to medium-calibre automatic cannons. Supported systems include 5.56 mm machine guns, 30×113 mm cannons, and heavier calibres such as 30×173 mm and 40×180 mm.
Equipped with sophisticated sensors and imaging systems, Protector stations provide flexible all-weather, day-and-night operational capability. The RS4 offers continuous 360-degree rotation at up to 90 degrees per second, with an elevation range of –20 to +60 degrees and elevation speeds of up to 70 degrees per second, supporting rapid reaction and precision engagement.
The San programme is designed to deliver a comprehensive air defence umbrella capable of countering both unmanned aerial systems and crewed aircraft. The architecture will include more than a dozen batteries combining artillery, rockets, interceptor drones, and electronic or other non-kinetic countermeasures.
Each battery will be fitted with an integrated sensor suite combining active radar, passive RF sensors, and electro-optical systems to ensure robust detection, classification, and tracking of airborne threats.
