Polish Defence Minister in Mirosławiec: Drone budget from 100M zlotys in 2023 to 26B in 2026, about 1B for base; first MQ-9B SkyGuardian to arrive January 2027

Mirosławiec, Poland

Poland's Ministry of National Defence announced that Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz visited the 12th Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Base in Mirosławiec, northwestern Poland, on October 30, 2026 (local time), to meet with commanders and service members. The Polish Ministry of National Defence titled the day's announcement "Unmanned systems are a priority in the modernization process of the Polish Armed Forces." Kosiniak-Kamysz announced at the base that annual spending on unmanned systems, which stood at approximately 100 million zlotys in 2023, will reach 26 billion zlotys in 2026. The minister announced that approximately 1 billion zlotys has already been invested in the facilities of the Mirosławiec base, and that the base will welcome the Polish Armed Forces' first MQ-9B SkyGuardian unmanned aerial vehicle in January 2027. Kosiniak-Kamysz announced that this budget increase is the result of experience gained on the battlefield in Ukraine fighting against the Russian invasion. Poland is a NATO eastern flank nation that experienced multiple airspace violations by Russian drones in September 2025.

Defense Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz Visited the 12th Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Base in Mirosławiec

According to the Polish Ministry of National Defence, Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz met with commanders and service members of the 12th Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Base in Mirosławiec on Friday, October 30, and received a briefing on base investment plans and completed investment projects. The minister announced, "Mirosławiec is a special place in our activities," adding, "This is where the 12th Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Base is located, and where large-scale investments are being made." The minister stated, "Purchasing military equipment is a very important task, and there is great emotion and joy when signing contracts," while adding, "Behind that awaits daily routine: equipment maintenance, logistics, and servicing." The minister announced, "Approximately 1 billion zlotys has already been invested in the infrastructure of this air base."

Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz announced, "I had the opportunity to hear reports from commanders of the units responsible for this investment," adding, "I am very grateful for their diligence and timeliness, and in fact, completing the investment ahead of schedule." The minister announced, "In January, I would like to invite everyone present here today," adding, "As reported by the base commander, a colonel, we will welcome the first MQ-9B SkyGuardian to be acquired by the Polish Armed Forces." The minister stated that the MQ-9B is "the largest and most expensive aircraft among the unmanned aerial vehicles that the Polish Armed Forces will operate." According to the Polish Ministry of National Defence, during this visit, the minister laid flowers at the memorial to the victims of the CASA C-295M military transport aircraft crash that occurred near Mirosławiec on January 23, 2008, paying tribute to the 20 service members who died in the accident.

The 12th UAV Base Is Responsible for Imagery and Electronic Reconnaissance and Precision Strikes

According to the Polish Ministry of National Defence, the 12th Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Base is a Polish Air Force unit named after Brigadier General Jerzy Piłat, operating under the command of the commander of the 1st Tactical Aviation Wing. The Ministry of National Defence announced that the base is responsible for imagery reconnaissance, electronic reconnaissance, and precision strikes against ground and maritime targets. Imagery reconnaissance refers to activities that obtain intelligence by imaging land and sea using optical cameras and radar, while electronic reconnaissance refers to capturing and analyzing an adversary's radar and communication radio signals.

According to the Ministry of National Defence, the base currently possesses Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE)-class tactical unmanned aerial vehicles, carrying out reconnaissance and strike missions with these aircraft. MALE refers to a class of unmanned aerial vehicles capable of flying at medium altitudes of several thousand meters or higher for nearly a full day. The Ministry of National Defence announced that the base analyzes, interprets, transmits, and disseminates collected reconnaissance and intelligence data, and supports airfield operations so that Polish Armed Forces and NATO air assets can conduct their missions. According to the Ministry of National Defence, the base also continuously maintains operational forces ready to participate in peacekeeping missions of international organizations and activities pursuant to allied commitments.

In his speech during the visit to the base, Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz introduced Mirosławiec as "an unmanned aerial vehicle base for our drones, Bayraktars and Reapers," and announced that the event marked the completion of a phase in the base investment project. The minister announced, "We are very proud of this achievement," adding, "Poland has changed its approach to unmanned systems."

Poland's Ministry of National Defence Announced Drone Budget Increased From 100 Million Zlotys to 26 Billion Zlotys

Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz announced, "When I began my duties as defense minister in 2023, we were spending approximately 100 million zlotys per year on unmanned systems," adding, "In 2026, it is 26 billion zlotys." The minister announced that this spending represents Poland's largest-ever investment in the drone sector, covering drones, counter-drone systems, reconnaissance and strike platforms of various ranges, fiber-optic-guided drones, and various equipment. Fiber-optic-guided drones transmit control signals via thin fiber-optic cables instead of radio signals, making them immune to electronic jamming.

The minister announced, "This is the result of experience gained in Ukraine," adding, "It is the result of applying new battlefield solutions to the Polish military." On the same day, the minister wrote on his X account, "On the modern battlefield, the side that detects threats first holds the advantage," adding, "That is why we are investing so heavily in drones." In this post, the minister stated that the budget allocated to drones and counter-drone systems in 2023 was 100 million zlotys, and the budget and programs in this area now reach 26 billion zlotys. The minister wrote that nearly 1 billion zlotys is being invested in the 12th Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Base in Mirosławiec, including support facilities, hangars, workshops, and maintenance facilities. The minister wrote that the MQ-9B unmanned aerial vehicles ordered in 2024 will be operated from this base, adding, "Every day, we are building capabilities to protect the Polish people." The Polish Ministry of National Defence also separately posted on its X account the same day the minister's remark that "approximately 1 billion zlotys has already been invested in the infrastructure of this air base."

According to the Polish Ministry of National Defence, Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz announced on December 12, 2024, "A few months ago, I announced the creation of drone forces," adding, "Starting January 1, drone forces will become an actual part of the Polish Armed Forces, not just a plan." At the time, the minister stated, "Building drone forces is an absolute priority for us," adding, "Effective deterrence and defense policy requires investment in these types of forces." The minister announced, "On one end, there are simple drones that can even be mass-produced using 3D printers, and on the other end, there are the most advanced unmanned aerial vehicles, like the ones we are purchasing now." The minister announced that the MQ-9B "features outstanding reconnaissance capabilities thanks to modern radar technology, optoelectronic equipment, and communication systems, giving us a significant advantage."

According to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), multiple drones flying from Russia violated Polish airspace in the early morning of September 10, 2025, prompting a response that involved Polish F-16 fighters, Dutch F-35 fighters, an Italian airborne early warning aircraft, a NATO multi-role tanker transport aircraft, and a German Patriot air defense system. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced in a statement on the same day that "this violation is not an isolated incident," and Poland requested allied consultations under Article 4 of the North Atlantic Treaty. Secretary General Rutte stated in the announcement, "Violations of Polish airspace, whether intentional or not, are reckless and dangerous," calling on Russian President Vladimir Putin to "stop the war in Ukraine and stop violating Allied airspace." Article 4 of the North Atlantic Treaty allows member states to request allied consultations whenever they consider that their territorial integrity or security is threatened. Secretary General Rutte announced on September 12, 2025, the launch of the military activity "Eastern Sentry" to bolster defense posture along the eastern flank, and NATO announced that this activity, joined by allied forces including Denmark, France, the United Kingdom, and Germany, includes counter-drone elements. In his October 30, 2026 X post, Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz cited as a reason for drone investment that "on the modern battlefield, the side that detects threats first holds the advantage."

Poland Signed MQ-9B SkyGuardian Purchase Contract With U.S. Company in December 2024

According to the Polish Ministry of National Defence, the Armament Agency, acting on behalf of the Polish State Treasury, signed a contract to purchase MQ-9B SkyGuardian unmanned reconnaissance and strike systems with U.S. company General Atomics on December 12, 2024, at the Ministry of National Defence headquarters in Warsaw. Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz announced at the time, "We are paying approximately 1.2 billion zlotys, or 310 million dollars, for several of these aircraft." General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) announced on December 16, 2024, that it was selling three MQ-9Bs, two Certified Ground Control Stations, and three years of follow-on support to the Polish Ministry of National Defence.

The Polish Ministry of National Defence announced that the MQ-9B will replace the MQ-9A Reaper reconnaissance system that has been leased and operated since February 2023. According to the Ministry of National Defence, the MQ-9B collects imagery intelligence (IMINT) using electro-optical and infrared sensors and synthetic aperture radar (SAR), as well as signals intelligence (SIGINT). Synthetic aperture radar is equipment that captures radar images of the ground even through clouds or darkness. The Ministry of National Defence set the delivery timeline at the time of the contract for the first quarter of 2027. Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz announced at the time, "Currently, we are leasing and using the older MQ-9A, but we are transitioning to the cutting-edge MQ-9B," adding, "We hope deliveries will be expedited further, and we are requesting this from our proven partners." The minister announced, "This system will serve the Polish military continuously, and while we are currently using it on lease, it will become our permanent asset starting in 2027." The minister stated that the MQ-9B's "primary purpose is reconnaissance, but it can also perform strike missions if necessary," calling the purchase "an investment in Polish security and in cooperation with our strategic partner, the United States."

GA-ASI announced that the MQ-9B will serve as Poland's primary intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) platform. David Alexander, president of GA-ASI, announced at the time, "The acquisition of the MQ-9B SkyGuardian provides Poland with vital, persistent, multi-domain situational awareness capabilities." According to GA-ASI, Poland began operating the MQ-9A Reaper under a lease agreement with GA-ASI in 2022, and GA-ASI announced that the success of those missions led to the acquisition of the MQ-9B.

According to GA-ASI, the MQ-9B is capable of automatic takeoff and landing using only satellite communications and can fly in civil airspace alongside commercial aircraft through its proprietary collision avoidance system. A Certified Ground Control Station (CGCS) is ground equipment where pilots and sensor operators remotely control unmanned aircraft, designed to meet the airworthiness certification standards of aviation authorities. The collision avoidance system (Detect and Avoid) is equipment that detects and automatically avoids nearby aircraft, a function required for unmanned aerial vehicles to fly in civil airspace outside dedicated military zones. GA-ASI announced that the Royal Air Force received its first MQ-9B in 2022, and contracts for the MQ-9B have also been signed by Belgium, Canada, the Japan Coast Guard, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, Taiwan, India, and the U.S. Air Force in support of Special Operations Command. GA-ASI announced that its unmanned aircraft have accumulated more than 8 million flight hours.

Sources (KST)

• Polish Ministry of National Defence, "Systemy bezzałogowe to priorytet w procesie modernizacji Wojska Polskiego" (October 30, 2026): https://www.gov.pl/web/obrona-narodowa/systemy-bezzalogowe-to-priorytet-w-procesie-modernizacji-wojska-polskiego
• Polish Ministry of National Defence X post (October 30, 2026): https://x.com/MON_GOV_PL/status/2116156168678596783
• Polish Ministry of National Defence X post, remarks by Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz (October 30, 2026): https://x.com/MON_GOV_PL/status/2116136773021577480
• Polish Ministry of National Defence X post, remarks by Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz (October 30, 2026): https://x.com/MON_GOV_PL/status/2116135964523274534
• Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Kosiniak-Kamysz X post (October 30, 2026): https://x.com/KosiniakKamysz/status/2116199250203644089
• Polish Ministry of National Defence, "SkyGuardian wzmocni potencjał rozpoznawczy Wojska Polskiego" (December 12, 2024): https://www.gov.pl/web/obrona-narodowa/skyguardian-wzmocni-potencjal-rozpoznawczy-wojska-polskiego
• Polish Ministry of National Defence, "Bezzałogowce MQ-9B SkyGuardian" (December 12, 2024): https://www.gov.pl/web/obrona-narodowa/bezzalogowce-mq-9b-skyguardian
• General Atomics, "Poland To Acquire Three MQ-9B SkyGuardians From GA-ASI" (December 16, 2024): https://www.ga.com/poland-to-acquire-three-mq-9b-skyguardians-from-ga-asi
• NATO Secretary General statement regarding Russian drone violation of Polish airspace (September 10, 2025): https://www.nato.int/en/news-and-events/events/transcripts/2025/09/10/statement
• NATO, "NATO launches “Eastern Sentry” to bolster posture along eastern flank" (September 12, 2025): https://www.nato.int/en/news-and-events/articles/news/2025/09/12/nato-launches-eastern-sentry-to-bolster-posture-along-eastern-flank