Poland Plans Over €2 Billion Anti-Drone Fortifications Along Eastern Border
Poland is set to build extensive anti-drone fortifications along its eastern border, with an estimated cost exceeding €2 billion. The project will be primarily funded through the EU SAFE defence loan funds, supplemented by the state budget. Deputy Defence Minister Cezary Tomczyk stated that initial capabilities are anticipated within approximately six months, with the complete system expected to be operational within two years.
The new defenses will be integrated with an existing protection line and will feature multi-layered defenses, including machine guns, cannons, missiles, and drone-jamming technology. Some components are designated for wartime usage only. This initiative follows a September incident in which over a dozen suspected Russian drones infiltrated Polish airspace, prompting airport closures and fighter jets to be scrambled, although the drones appeared unarmed.
In parallel, Poland is strengthening its eastern borders under the Eastern Shield program concerning Belarus and the Kaliningrad enclave. This effort includes establishing logistics hubs in every border municipality to enable rapid deployment. Defence spending in Poland has increased to about 4.7% of GDP, with officials advocating for even higher budgets, citing ongoing Russian hybrid threats and drawing comparisons to the expenditure on Ukraine's war.
The broader regional effort involves Europe enhancing its defenses along the eastern flank to counter hybrid warfare tactics and potential invasions, though experts acknowledge that no existing system can fully defend against mass drone attacks. Alongside these military measures, Poland plans to train hundreds of thousands of citizens in survival skills and to expand voluntary military training as part of its overall resilience and border security strategy.
