Poland is becoming a regional drone hub. There's a new agreement with Norway.

• Kongsberg and Advanced Protection Systems establish a Polish-Norwegian partnership in the field of counter-unmanned aerial vehicle (C-UAV) systems.
• The agreement strengthens Poland's position as a regional innovation hub and highlights Norway's growing role in the integration of European air defence.
• Already in 2008, Poland purchased Norwegian anti-ship Naval Strike Missile (NSM) systems for the Coastal Missile Squadron with a range of up to 200 km.

Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace and Advanced Protection Systems have signed a partnership agreement to jointly develop and deliver advanced counter-unmanned aircraft systems (CUAS).

Both partners bring complementary expertise to this strategic collaboration. Polish company Advanced Protection Systems is a specialized manufacturer of FIELDctrl 3D MIMO radars and SKYctrl counter-drone systems , while Norwegian company Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace is an international defense company with experience in short- and medium-range air defense systems, including counter-unmanned aerial vehicle systems.

The agreement establishes a formal framework for cooperation between Advanced Protection Systems and Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, combining their complementary competencies, resources and technological expertise.

The two companies identified a growing global market demand and urgent defense needs for counter-drone solutions , with an initial focus on Poland and Norway, where national and allied security infrastructure is increasingly exposed to threats from unmanned aerial vehicles on NATO's eastern flank.

Exchange of technical knowledge to create efficient anti-drone systems

Under the agreement, both companies have entered into an agreement to jointly identify and implement business ventures in the field of anti-unmanned aircraft systems, securing and implementing joint solutions combining radars, sensor fusion, command and control systems, and kinetic and non-kinetic countermeasures.

An important element of the agreement is the exchange of technical and business knowledge to enable the creation of efficient, scalable and interoperable anti-drone systems.

"This partnership with Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace is another step towards strengthening Europe's counter-drone capabilities. By combining our combat-proven FIELDctrl radar and SKYctrl counter-drone systems with Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace's decades of experience in air defense, we are creating solutions that are not only highly effective but also fully interoperable within NATO," said Maciej Klemm, co-founder and CEO of Advanced Protection Systems.

He also added that in the face of the growing threat on the Alliance's eastern flank, ensuring the security of civilian and military critical infrastructure is the company's highest priority.

Polish-Norwegian cooperation to strengthen European security

The agreement strengthens Poland’s position as a regional center for counter-drone innovation, supported by Advanced Protection Systems’ extensive experience and technologies in the development of counter-drone systems and Norway’s growing role in the integration of European air defense, where Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace brings decades of experience in missile and air defense systems to the field of anti-drone systems.

“With the rapid increase in drone threats – both on the battlefield and in the context of protecting critical infrastructure – the need to deploy resilient, combat-proven counter-drone systems is no longer a matter of choice, but a necessity,” said Erik Lie, CEO of Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace.

Let's clarify that CUAV (Counter Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) is a general term for counter-drone systems encompassing technologies and procedures used to detect, identify, track, and neutralize unauthorized or hostile UAVs, ultimately enabling the drone to be shot down. In addition to radars and optical sensors, it may also include signal jammers and kinetic weapons, such as cannons or interceptor drones.

CUAS (Counter Unmanned Aircraft System), on the other hand, is a broader concept, referring to the entire unmanned system, meaning not only the drone (UAV) itself but also the ground control station and the communications between them. It is therefore a comprehensive solution for defending against the entire drone system, not just the aircraft itself. It also includes countermeasures against the operator, jamming communications, and taking control of the drone.

The cooperation includes both arms purchases and technological partnerships.

Poland is strengthening its strategic relationship with the Norwegian company Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, one of the leaders in the European defense industry. This cooperation encompasses both arms purchases and technological partnerships with Polish companies.

Back in 2008, Poland purchased Norwegian anti-ship Naval Strike Missiles (NSMs) for the Coastal Missile Squadron, with a range of up to 200 km. Components for these missile systems are partially manufactured in Poland (e.g., Jelcz, PIT-Radwar), and the missiles are serviced by the Military Electronic Works in Zielonka. Norwegians train Polish NSM crews.

Additionally, NASAMS air defense systems are used by Norway to protect the Jasionka airport. Poland is considering purchasing them under the Narew program and integrating them with Polish radars and command systems.