Poland plans to deploy a so-called anti-drone wall along its eastern border within the next six months. This was announced by Deputy Minister of Defense Cezary Tomczyk in an interview with The Guardian. According to him, the authorities expect to complete the construction of the new counter-drone defense system within two years.
The air-defense systems will be integrated into an existing defensive line built about ten years ago and will include multiple layers of protection — ranging from machine guns and cannons to missiles and drone-jamming equipment. The cost of the project will exceed €2 billion. Funding is expected to come from the European SAFE defense loan program as well as the state budget.
Some of the systems, Tomczyk said, are intended exclusively for emergency situations or wartime use.
Against the backdrop of rapidly rising military spending — nearly 5% of GDP, the highest level among NATO countries — Polish officials have acknowledged serious shortcomings in civil defense. The head of Poland’s National Security Bureau, Sławomir Cenckiewicz, told the Financial Times that the condition of bomb shelters is a major problem, noting that in recent years the country focused on modernizing its armed forces while neglecting civilian protection.
According to the Financial Times, only about 1,000 shelters are currently considered usable, enough to protect no more than 3% of the population. By comparison, shelters in Finland can accommodate at least 80% of the country’s residents.
Starting in 2026, developers in Poland will be required to include shelters in most new buildings, and the government of Donald Tusk has already allocated nearly €4 billion for the construction of protective shelters.
