Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense, announces a deal to buy American MQ-9 SkyGuardian drones. (Poland’s MND)
WARSAW — Poland has signed off on a $310 million purchase of MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones from General Atomics.
Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense, signed the documents on Dec. 12.
While the agreement is the first purchase from Poland of the SkyGuardian — the name for General Atomics’ Reaper — Warsaw has been operating similar drones since February 2023, when the country entered into a $70.6 million lease with General Atomics for MQ-9A Reapers.
Warsaw didn’t initially disclose the number of systems purchased, but a Monday press release from GA-ASI announced Poland purchased three MQ-9Bs and two Certifiable Ground Control Stations (CGCS), as well as three years of GA-ASI’s SkyGuardian Global Support Solutions.
“This is a significant expense, but we are investing in the highest quality equipment,” said Kosiniak-Kamysz. He stated that the plan is for deliveries by first quarter 2027, “However, we hope that this will happen sooner, which is what we are seeking from our proven partners.”
A GA-ASI representative stressed after ceremony, “It is possible that the delivery will be accelerated, because one of the first SkyGuardians intended for Poland has already been almost completed at the GA-ASI plant in San Diego.”
“This is an investment in Polish security and cooperation with a strategic partner — the United States. Poland is not only investing in the arms industry, but also strengthening economic relations with allies,” Kosiniak-Kamysz added.
Drony MQ-9B SkyGuardian to kolejny istotny krok w modernizacji Wojska Polskiego. Te zaawansowane systemy zwiększą m. in. nasze zdolności rozpoznawczo – uderzeniowe. SkyGuardian to kolejny element odstraszania i obrony oraz budowy nowoczesnej armii, gotowej sprostać wyzwaniom… pic.twitter.com/doDoovrSmt
— Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz (@KosiniakKamysz) December 12, 2024
The acquisition of the SkyGuardian system, equipped with optoelectronic payload and synthetic aperture radar, will increase the Polish Armed Forces Imagery intelligence and Signals intelligence capabilities. The SkyGuardian comes with auto-takeoff and landing under SATCOM-only control, and can operate in unsegregated airspace.
According to GA-ASI, the MQ-9B has seen contracts signed with “Belgium, Canada, the Japan Coast Guard, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, Taiwan, India, and the U.S. Air Force in support of Special Operations Command.”
The SkyGuardian purchase comes months after Kosiniak-Kamysz announced the creation of a so-called “Drone Force,” following the model that Ukraine created earlier this year. (Earlier today, Russian defense minister Andrey Belousov also called for the creation of a drone-focused military branch.)
“A few months ago, I announced the creation of drone forces, which is becoming a fact,” Kosiniak-Kamysz said. “From January 1, 2025, drone forces will no longer be a plan, but a real part of the Polish Army. […] Building drone forces is an absolute priority for us.
“An effective deterrence and defense policy requires investment in this type of troops. On the one hand, we have simple drones that can be mass-produced, even using 3D printers, and on the other – the most advanced drones, such as the ones we are currently buying.” he said.
