“Without Annex No. 6 and with unlawfully suspended funding, the Orlik drone program isn’t progressing at the necessary pace,” writes Dariusz Sokołowski, CEO of Military Aviation Works No. 2 (WZL2) in Bydgoszcz, in a letter to employees following his resignation. Unintentionally, this confirms earlier reports by “Gazeta Polska Codziennie” (“GPC”) that Polish military drone programs, Orlik and Wizjer, are at risk. “This resignation is ten months overdue. If it’s true that PGZ doesn’t want to fund these programs, it would constitute sabotage,” commented Bartosz Kownacki, Deputy Head of the Parliamentary Defense Committee.
In a letter addressed to the staff yesterday, CEO Sokołowski explained the current state of the company and reasons for his departure, writing:
“Without Annex No. 6 and with unjustifiably suspended financing, the Orlik drone project isn’t developing at the required pace. These matters are within PGZ’s control and could easily be resolved. The scandalously low funds allocated in 2025 for servicing aviation equipment by WZL2 give little hope and don’t guarantee maintaining our staff and competencies.”
Sokołowski emphasized that he had made efforts to increase funding and openly raised these concerns “in all possible forums: with military institutions, local MPs, and PGZ—where instead of understanding and support, I encountered only displeasure.” After his last conversation with PGZ’s CEO, he concluded further cooperation was impossible.
The outgoing CEO’s letter unintentionally confirms earlier reporting by “Gazeta Polska Codziennie,” which highlighted layoffs at the plant since last autumn and threats to the Orlik and Wizjer drone programs. It was also reported that the military significantly reduced funding for F-16 maintenance and no longer has funds for applying special anti-radar coatings—services previously carried out by WZL2 in Bydgoszcz.
According to information from “GPC,” PGZ, although the project’s leader (with WZL2 acting as technical lead), no longer wishes to finance the Orlik program.