Poland Orders 18 Norwegian Kongsberg Counter-Drone Batteries in $1.5bn Defense Deal.

Norway's Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace has signed a NOK 16 billion contract with Poland to deliver 18 Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems batteries under the SAN program. The deal strengthens Poland’s layered air defense as drones become a defining threat in modern conflicts.

Norwegian Company Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace announced on January 30, 2026, that it had secured a significant air defense contract with the Polish Armaments Agency for the delivery of 18 Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems batteries, working in close partnership with Poland’s state-owned defense group Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa. Valued at approximately NOK 16 billion (USD 1.5 billion), the agreement supports Poland’s SAN program. It reflects Warsaw’s accelerating push to counter hostile drone activity observed across recent high-intensity conflicts in Europe and beyond.
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The new SAN CUAS systems for the Polish Armed Forces will be based on Kongsberg’s PROTECTOR turret, adapted for counter-drone missions with integrated sensors, guided missiles, and multi-caliber firepower. (Picture source: Kongsberg)

The SAN program (Systemy AntyDronowe – Anti-Drone Systems) is a strategic national initiative of the Polish Ministry of National Defence to build a comprehensive, multi-tiered defense network against unmanned aerial threats. Launched in response to the growing operational use of drones in the Russia-Ukraine conflict and other global theaters, SAN is designed to integrate advanced detection, tracking, and engagement capabilities across the Polish Army’s land forces, air defense units, and critical infrastructure protection assets. The program is not a single system, but a family of systems that includes sensors, effectors, command and control, and mobile deployment platforms tailored to counter Class I and II drones, loitering munitions, and swarm tactics.

At the core of the SAN CUAS solution are Kongsberg’s PROTECTOR weapon systems, including the Medium Caliber Turret (MCT30) and various Remote Weapon Stations (RWS). These platforms, originally designed for vehicle-mounted precision firepower, have been adapted for counter-drone warfare through modular effector integration and digitized targeting systems. The MCT30, with its unmanned configuration, lightweight design, and fully networked digital architecture, is particularly well-suited for detecting, tracking, and neutralizing low-signature aerial platforms operating in cluttered or contested environments.

Operationally, the SAN CUAS batteries will deploy a broad mix of effectors optimized for layered defense. This includes 35 mm and 30 mm automatic cannons, 12.7 mm heavy machine guns, 70 mm guided missiles, and dedicated interceptor drones. The RWS modules will center on the 70 mm guided missile as their primary CUAS effector, allowing operators to engage aerial targets at extended ranges with high precision. This capability is vital for countering UAS from Groups 1 through 3, including loitering munitions and fast-moving surveillance drones commonly employed in hybrid warfare scenarios.

What distinguishes the SAN system is its emphasis on integration. The CUAS batteries are designed to operate as distributed sensor-effector nodes within a national air defense network. Command and control will be handled by Advanced Protection Systems (APS), whose architecture enables the fusion of radar, electro-optical, and acoustic sensors and coordinates engagement sequences across multiple effectors. This distributed architecture ensures persistent 360-degree surveillance coverage and rapid response across fixed and mobile deployments.

The battlefield relevance of this program is underscored by the growing prevalence of drones in near-peer and asymmetric conflicts. From Ukraine to the Middle East, unmanned aerial systems have become the preferred tools for reconnaissance, targeting, and kamikaze strikes. These threats often bypass traditional air defenses due to their low radar cross-section, flight profiles below conventional radar thresholds, and ability to swarm or coordinate in saturation attacks. The SAN CUAS program responds directly to these evolving threat vectors by fielding adaptable, networked, and mobile systems capable of operating autonomously or within broader command structures.

Notably, the modular nature of the PROTECTOR systems allows rapid adaptation to future drone threats, including the anticipated rise of AI-controlled swarms, high-speed micro-UAS, and multi-domain drone platforms capable of jamming, surveillance, or kinetic effects. The Polish approach reflects a shift from point defense to area-based, layered drone denial, positioning its forces to handle the next generation of drone warfare across both urban and open terrain.

Kongsberg’s announcement also includes plans to expand local manufacturing in Poland, enhancing sustainment, training, and scalability within Poland. This industrial footprint will support the long-term maintenance and upgrade of SAN CUAS batteries, while also ensuring rapid adaptation to shifting operational requirements and technological developments in drone warfare.

With more than 20,000 PROTECTOR systems delivered worldwide and integration experience across 30+ countries, Kongsberg’s CUAS adaptation represents a mature, field-ready solution to a problem increasingly shaping 21st-century ground combat. Poland’s acquisition of these capabilities marks a decisive step in national defense modernization, aimed at ensuring battlefield survivability and airspace dominance in today's and tomorrow's drone-saturated conflicts.

Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.