Poland has concluded a NOK 16 billion ($1.65 billion) agreement with a Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace–PGZ consortium to acquire advanced counter-UAS systems, significantly enhancing national defences against the expanding threat from unmanned aerial vehicles.
Awarded under the San air defence programme, the contract provides for the delivery of 18 counter-drone batteries built around Kongsberg’s Protector remote weapon stations. The systems will integrate both kinetic and non-kinetic effectors—including guns, missiles, and interceptor drones—to create a layered air defence capability.
PGZ subsidiary Advanced Protection Systems will supply the command-and-control solution, integrating sensors and effectors while ensuring seamless interoperability with Poland’s existing and future air defence networks.
The Protector family is engineered for high operational flexibility, supporting deployment on land and maritime platforms in both fixed and mobile configurations. The portfolio includes the MCT30 Medium Calibre Turret alongside the RS4 and RS6 remote weapon stations, each tailored to distinct mission profiles.
Thanks to a modular architecture, the system supports remote operation of a wide range of weapon payloads, from light machine guns to medium-calibre automatic cannons. Compatible armaments include 5.56 mm machine guns, 30×113 mm cannons, and heavier options such as 30×173 mm and 40×180 mm calibres.
Protector weapon stations feature advanced sensor and imaging suites, enabling effective day- and night-time operations. The RS4 provides full 360-degree traverse at speeds of up to 90 degrees per second, with elevation ranging from –20 to +60 degrees and elevation speeds reaching 70 degrees per second, allowing rapid response and accurate target engagement.
The broader San programme is intended to establish a comprehensive air defence shield against both unmanned systems and conventional crewed aircraft. It will comprise more than a dozen batteries combining artillery effectors, rockets, interceptor drones, and electronic or other non-kinetic countermeasures.
Each battery will field a multi-sensor package integrating active radar, passive RF detection, and electro-optical sensors to enable reliable detection, identification, and tracking of aerial threats.
