Counter-drone defence on the eastern border: Poland builds a comprehensive shield with the "Sun" system

Poland is pressing ahead with comprehensive counter-drone defence along its eastern border. At its centre is the new "Sun" system, to enter service gradually from 2026: the first batteries are to be operational as early as next year, and the system is to be fully operational in 2027. As an integral part of the so-called "Eastern Shield", it is designed to detect and neutralise drones of every kind – including kamikaze unmanned aerial vehicles (kamikaze UAVs).

The project is estimated at more than two billion euros. It is to be financed largely from European funds, above all the SAFE programme (Security Action for Europe), supplemented by money from the national budget. According to Poland's Deputy Defence Minister Cezary Tomczyk, initial capabilities could be ready within six months; he expects the full build-out to take around 24 months.

Autumn incidents as the trigger

Planning was accelerated by several incidents in the autumn in which drones – presumably Russian – had entered Polish airspace. Among other consequences, airports had to close temporarily, fighter jets were scrambled and damage occurred on the ground. Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski described the incidents as deliberate provocations by Moscow, intended to test Poland's ability to respond without triggering open military escalation.

Multi-layered counter-drone defence from machine guns to jammers

The new concept is to be integrated into the existing lines of defence built around ten years ago. A multi-layered approach is planned, ranging from light and heavy machine guns to cannons, guided missiles and electronic jamming systems. According to Tomczyk, some of these assets are explicitly intended for crisis or wartime and can only be used to a limited extent in peacetime.

Alongside the shield against drones, Poland is also reinforcing the physical fortifications on its land borders with Belarus and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad. The "Eastern Shield" also includes special logistics hubs in every border municipality. Barrier and security materials are stored there so that a response can be made within a few hours in an emergency.

4.7 per cent of GDP for defence

Russia has been waging its war of aggression against Ukraine for almost four years – against this backdrop, Warsaw has massively expanded its defence efforts. Recently there has been a rise in acts of sabotage and arson, which Polish security services attribute to Russian intelligence services. In addition, hundreds of thousands of citizens are to learn basic survival and defence skills, supported by voluntary military training programmes.

Spending around 4.7 per cent of its gross domestic product on defence, Poland is now among the EU countries with the highest defence expenditure. Ukraine is currently spending around 40 per cent of its GDP on the war, Tomczyk pointed out. The decisive question is therefore whether Europe is prepared to invest more early on – or whether it will have to respond later at a considerably higher price.

As long as Ukraine ties Russia down, the Polish government currently sees no imminent conventional war in Europe. However, it says hybrid threats, provocations and sabotage must be expected. Should Russia win in Ukraine, Tomczyk warns that new security risks for the whole of Europe could quickly emerge.