Poland’s armaments procurement agency has awarded a 16-billion Norwegian krone ($1.65-billion) contract to a consortium of Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace and Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ) to supply counter-drone systems to deal with the evolving threat of unmanned aerial systems.
Awarded under the San air defense program, the contract covers 18 batteries built around Kongsberg’s Protector remote-controlled weapon station equipped with a range of effectors including cannons, missiles, and interceptor drones.
As part of the deal, PGZ subcontractor Advanced Protection Systems will provide the command-and-control solution, integrating sensors and effectors and ensuring full interoperability with Poland’s air defense architecture.
“This programme confirms Poland’s position as a regional hub for counter-drone innovation and strengthens Kongsberg’s position as one of Europe’s leading providers of anti-drone solutions,” President of Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace Eirik Lie said.
“The collaboration between Kongsberg and PGZ demonstrates the companies’ commitment and support to NATO-aligned industrial cooperation to strengthen the European security landscape and anti-drone shield.”
To fulfill the contract, Kongsberg plans to invest in expanding its manufacturing capacity and capabilities in Poland.
Protector Remote Weapon System
Compatible with a wide range of land and maritime platforms, both static and mobile, the Protector family comprises the Medium Caliber Turret (MCT30) and the RS4 and RS6 remote weapon stations, designed to meet different platform and mission requirements.
The system’s modular design allows for the remote operation of payloads ranging from small-caliber weapons to medium-caliber automatic cannons, including light machine guns (5.56mm), light cannons (30×113mm), and medium-caliber cannons such as 30×173mm and 40×180mm.
Protector systems are equipped with advanced camera and sensor suites, enabling flexible day- and night operations tailored to customer requirements.
The RS4 provides 360-degree rotation at speeds of up to 90 degrees per second, while its elevation range spans from minus 20 degrees to plus 60 degrees, with an elevation speed of up to 70 degrees per second, ensuring rapid response and precise targeting.
San Air Defense Program
The San program is designed to provide comprehensive air defense against the growing threat posed by unmanned systems as well as crewed aircraft.
It will comprise more than a dozen air defense batteries featuring a mix of artillery effectors, rockets, interceptor drones, and non-kinetic capabilities intended to disrupt or disable hostile unmanned aerial systems of all sizes.
Each battery will be equipped with a full spectrum of sensors, including active radars, passive radio-frequency sensors, and optical sensors, enabling the detection, classification, and tracking of airborne targets.
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