Poland is actively using Ukraine’s experience in the war against Russia to modernize its own Armed Forces, focusing on the development of unmanned systems, artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies.
This was stated by Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz during a ceremony in Warsaw marking the signing of agreements under the PERUN defence technology development programme. According to the minister, modern warfare remains a war of traditional weapons, but it is new technologies that allow Ukraine to gain an advantage over Russian forces.
“The war in Ukraine teaches us that this is a war of a total nature. Every day on the front line, hundreds of combat engagements take place involving traditional weapons – tanks, artillery and infantry… Russia carried out 904 attacks against Ukraine along the front line last week alone,” Kosiniak-Kamysz said.
He noted that traditional weapons remain essential for the military, but it is new technologies that give Ukraine an advantage.
He recalled that Ukraine, through the use of maritime surface and underwater drones, “effectively eliminated the Black Sea Fleet,” and later Kyiv successfully began using aerial and ground drones to strike strategic targets deep inside Russian territory.
“We are implementing Ukraine’s experience and developing capabilities across all domains. The agreements signed today cover technologies for operations on land, in the air, at sea and underwater, as well as in cyberspace and space,” Poland’s defence minister said.
According to him, the priorities of the Polish military include the development of unmanned and anti-drone systems, artificial intelligence, long-range precision strike capabilities and satellite reconnaissance.
The minister also announced that all new recruits in the Polish military will receive training in the use of drones, and that unmanned systems will become an integral part of the equipment of every branch of the Armed Forces.
Kosiniak-Kamysz stressed that Poland aims not only to increase the size of its military but also to make it the strongest army in Europe in terms of operational capabilities. According to him, by 2030 Poland intends to create “the most powerful army on the continent, both in terms of numbers and combat capabilities.”
He also emphasized the importance of developing Poland’s defence industry. According to the minister, at the beginning of the current government’s term (since the end of 2023), only around 20% of military procurement was allocated to Polish manufacturers. Today, this figure exceeds 40%, while the strategic goal is to achieve a 50/50 balance between purchases from Polish defence companies and allied suppliers.
