Poland to boost its military muscle with 12 Force Protection drones
The Polish Defence Ministry's Armaments Agency and the domestic defence contractor WB Electronics company sealed a deal on Tuesday for 12 Force Protection drone systems, with the first units set to be delivered to the army next year.
After the agreement was signed, Deputy Defence Minister Pawel Bejda said that this was not the last purchase of military equipment for the Polish army this year.
According to Bejda, the drones will serve as the "eyes and ears" of the Polish army.
"We prioritise equality between the arms industry and the private and public sectors," the minister said.
Each Force Protection system includes two sets of four FlyEye mini-class reconnaissance drones, five sets of four X-Fronter micro-class drones, and 44 FP-SPECTRE radio-electronic reconnaissance systems.
The contract, valued at over PLN 499 million (EUR 117 million), also includes supplementary parts for 72 Homar-K rocket launchers and CD-10 fuel distribution tankers.
Deliveries will end in 2028 and include a training package as well as logistical support components.
Homar-K is a key element of Poland's artillery modernisation programme. The launchers share similarities with the U.S.-made HIMARS systems, which have proven highly effective in Ukraine's defence against Russia's full-scale invasion. Like HIMARS, the Homar-K can fire a variety of rockets, including up to 300 kilometre range ballistic missiles.
This year, the Polish Armaments Agency has signed 130 purchase contracts for military equipment worth a total PLN 152 billion (EUR 35.6 billion).(PAP)
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