Poland to Deploy 18 SAN Counter-Drone Batteries to Defend NATO’s Eastern Flank.

Poland has contracted 18 SAN counter-uncrewed aerial system batteries from Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace under a USD 1.6 billion program aimed at defeating drone swarms and loitering munitions. The acquisition reflects how NATO’s eastern members are rapidly reshaping air defense after lessons from Ukraine, with direct implications for U.S. and allied force protection.

Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace announced on 30 January 2026 that Poland is moving to field a major new counter-drone capability under the SAN CUAS programme, centered on 18 counter-uncrewed aerial system batteries contracted by the Polish Armaments Agency in cooperation with consortium partner Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa. Valued at NOK 16 billion for Kongsberg, the deal equals roughly USD 1.6 billion at the 30 January 2026 reference exchange rate.
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Poland's SAN counter-UAS batteries fuse drone-detection radars with layered effectors, including 35 mm airburst guns and 70 mm guided rockets to detect, track, and defeat UAV swarms and loitering munitions (Picture source: Kongsberg).

What makes SAN noteworthy is that it is not marketed as a single piece of equipment but as a modular, battery-level air defense construct tailored to the specific problem that has come to dominate modern high-intensity conflict: drones at scale, at every altitude band, forcing defenders into exhausting shot discipline and punishing logistics. The Polish Ministry of National Defence presents SAN as a system-of-systems, pairing sensors, effectors and non-kinetic tools to counter not only UAS but also the broader low-altitude air picture, with the first operational priority clearly tied to securing the eastern flank of NATO.

At the unit-of-issue level, each SAN battery is organized around three fire platoons and one support platoon. Each fire platoon is designed to operate independently, handling detection, tracking, identification and engagement without constant higher-echelon input. This architecture enables dispersal and flexibility: autonomous platoons can protect maneuver corridors, logistics hubs, airfields or critical infrastructure, while the support platoon integrates the wider air picture, command-and-control and sustainment. Polish authorities have stated that the full acquisition will include 18 batteries and 52 fire platoons, supported by more than 700 vehicles, the majority based on domestically produced Jelcz and Legwan platforms, reinforcing the mobility and survivability of the system.

Sensor redundancy is a defining feature of SAN and reflects lessons drawn directly from Ukraine. At fire platoon level, the system employs specialized counter-small UAS radars optimized for very low radar cross-section targets. These radars operate in the X-band and are designed to detect and track micro-UAVs at tactically relevant distances, closing the gap between detection and engagement that has proven decisive against fast, low-flying drones. Dedicated tracking radars tighten the fire control loop, ensuring that gun and missile systems can be cued with sufficient precision even in cluttered environments.

The support platoon adds a broader surveillance layer through longer-range 3D radars with full 360-degree coverage and integrated IFF. This enables earlier warning against loitering munitions and one-way attack drones before they penetrate inner defensive rings. Equally important, it helps avoid wasting ammunition or missiles on false tracks, birds or civilian air traffic, a non-trivial issue when defending rear-area infrastructure under persistent drone pressure.

The effector mix is where SAN most clearly reflects battlefield economics. Rather than relying solely on missiles, the system combines multiple gun calibers with guided rockets and other interceptors. Kongsberg’s contribution centers on its PROTECTOR family, including unmanned medium-caliber turrets and remote weapon stations. These are fully digitalized, remotely operated systems designed for high reliability and sustained firing without exposing crews. The inclusion of 70 mm guided rockets provides a precision option against individual drones or small groups at longer ranges, while guns remain the workhorse for countering swarms at lower cost per engagement.

On the Polish industrial side, PIT-RADWAR’s 35 mm anti-aircraft gun systems form a critical layer of the defense. With programmable ammunition and integrated electro-optical sights, these guns are optimized for engaging small, fast and low-signature targets. In counter-swarm scenarios, 35 mm airburst ammunition offers a favorable balance between effectiveness and cost, allowing commanders to defeat massed drones without depleting higher-value interceptors needed for aircraft or cruise missiles.

SAN addresses a threat Poland now treats as immediate rather than theoretical. Warsaw has explicitly linked the requirement to repeated incidents of airspace violations along the eastern border and to the broader lesson of the Russia-Ukraine war, where drones have become an indispensable tool for reconnaissance, targeting and strike missions. For Poland, counter-UAS is no longer only about protecting deployed forces but about safeguarding national territory, logistics corridors and NATO reinforcement routes against persistent aerial intrusion.

The contract structure underscores this urgency while also advancing national industrial goals. PGZ leads a consortium responsible for roughly 60% domestic content, with deliveries beginning in 2026 and the bulk of systems fielded in 2027. Full completion is planned within two years of contract signature. Kongsberg has stated it will invest in expanding manufacturing capacity in Poland, signaling that SAN is not just an acquisition program but a long-term industrial partnership with implications for European air defense resilience.