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SAN counter-drone programme
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SAN counter-drone programme

Poland's roughly 15bn-zloty counter-drone air-defence programme: 18 batteries from Kongsberg, PGZ and APS.

SAN is getting a domestic production base: on 13 October 2026 Kongsberg announced a factory investment topping 200m zlotys in Pomerania's Tri-City area, aiming for serial SAN output in the first half of 2028.

Last refreshed: 26 October 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic

Key Question

Can Poland field 18 counter-drone batteries before series output starts in 2028?

Timeline for SAN counter-drone programme

#19 13 Oct

Kongsberg to make SAN systems in Poland

Drones: Industry & Defence
View full timeline →

Background

Part of SAN will be assembled and serviced on Polish soil. Kongsberg announced on 13 October 2026 an investment topping 200m zlotys (roughly €45m) for a factory close to Gdańsk, Gdynia and Sopot, adding over 100 jobs. Construction should be contracted before the end of 2026; serial production for the programme could then begin in the first half of 2028. The Norwegian group also intends the site to supply customers elsewhere in Europe.

The Armament Agency awarded SAN on 30 January 2026 to a consortium of Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace and the Polish state group PGZ, with Advanced Protection Systems (APS) providing command and control as PGZ's subcontractor. Its scope runs to 18 batteries, made up of 18 command platoons and 52 firing platoons, mixing 35mm, 30mm and 12.7mm guns with missiles and interceptor drones. Kongsberg values its slice at about 16bn Norwegian kroner. A parliamentary question in March 2026 put the whole at about 15bn zlotys net and 703 vehicles.

Most of the bill falls on loans Poland drew under the EU's Security Action for Europe (SAFE) instrument, Defense News reports, making SAN an early case of EU credit buying national air defence.

Common Questions
What is Poland's SAN counter-drone programme?
SAN is Poland's national counter-drone air-defence programme: 18 batteries combining guns, missiles and interceptor drones, ordered from a PGZ and Kongsberg consortium on 30 January 2026.Source: Kongsberg
How much is Poland's SAN anti-drone contract worth?
About 15bn zlotys in total, according to Defense News and a Polish parliamentary question. Kongsberg puts its own share at about 16bn Norwegian kroner.Source: Defense News
Who is building Poland's SAN counter-drone system?
A consortium of Poland's state arms group PGZ and Norway's Kongsberg, with Polish firm APS providing command and control.Source: Kongsberg
Where will Kongsberg build SAN counter-drone systems in Poland?
At a new plant near the Tri-City of Gdańsk, Gdynia and Sopot in Pomerania, with series output possible from the first half of 2028.Source: Defense News
How is Poland paying for the SAN programme?
Mostly with loans Poland secured under the EU's Security Action for Europe (SAFE) instrument, according to Defense News.Source: Defense News
Source Material

Written with AI from Lowdown's published reporting. Not individually reviewed by an editor. Updated 26 October 2026. Editorial standards.