Kongsberg will build a counter-drone plant in Poland to serve its SAN order

Kongsberg will put more than 200 million zlotys (EUR 45 million) into the counter-unmanned aerial systems plant, in Poland's Pomeranian region near the Trójmiasto area. The company expects more than 100 long-term jobs once the factory reaches full capacity.¹

The plant puts a region and a price on the investment Kongsberg flagged when it won the order.^1–2 Kongsberg and consortium partner Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ) signed a contract with the Polish Armaments Agency for 18 counter-drone batteries, worth about NOK 16 billion to Kongsberg. The company said then it was preparing to invest in manufacturing capacity in Poland as part of the deliveries.² Defense News, citing Poland's Ministry of National Defence, reported the full SAN deal, under which Kongsberg and PGZ are to supply the batteries, is valued at around PLN 15 billion ($3.8 billion). It will be largely financed by loans Poland has secured from the European Union's Security Action for Europe scheme, according to Defense News.³

For SAN, the primary weapon on Kongsberg's Protector remote weapon stations will be the 70mm guided missile. The batteries will also include guns and interceptor drones, tied together by a command and control architecture from PGZ subcontractor Advanced Protection Systems.²

Kongsberg CEO Eirik Lie told Defense News on Oct. 12 that the company is "on good track" for SAN deliveries. He said Kongsberg also expects export contracts, and "this enables us to be prepared for these exports from Poland."³ In the plant announcement, Lie said the plant will serve "Poland and other future European customers."¹