During the Defence24 Day conference held in Warsaw on Thursday, high-ranking military officers from the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces, the Armament Agency, the General Command of the Armed Forces, and the 12th Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Base gathered to discuss the potential acquisition of advanced military equipment. The primary focus of the discussions revolved around the integration of Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) class drones, tactical Griffin armament, and Harpy Claw loitering munition missiles into the Polish army’s arsenal.
Addressing the audience, Łukasz Andrzejewski-Popow, the head of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces, emphasized that if the planned purchase deals come to fruition, the Polish army would require an additional airport specifically designed to accommodate unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Currently, the Mirosławiec base serves as the primary facility for these operations. However, with the influx of new systems, it has become evident that a single airport would prove insufficient.
“Together with the General Command, we are actively exploring the acquisition of another airfield. We acknowledge the logistical constraints that arise from operating numerous systems at a single airport. Should all the proposed contracts be successfully executed, the need for one, or possibly two, additional airports to facilitate the operation of these systems will become imperative,”
stated Andrzejewski-Popow.
Ireneusz Nowak, Air Force Inspector at the General Command of the Armed Forces, commented on the ambitious scale of the army’s intentions to purchase unmanned aerial vehicles. However, due to the conference’s open nature, he refrained from disclosing specific figures regarding the quantities involved.
Mariusz Żokowski from the Armament Agency corroborated the procurement of subsequent batches of the Polish-made Warmate loitering ammunition and FlyEye drones. Furthermore, he emphasized the agency’s commitment to diversifying its acquisitions, highlighting their ongoing efforts to explore a range of options.
As Poland continues to strengthen its military capabilities, the proposed acquisition of cutting-edge equipment underscores the nation’s dedication to advancing its defence strategy. The potential integration of MALE class drones, tactical Griffin armament, and Harpy Claw loitering munition missiles would undoubtedly bolster the Polish army’s operational capabilities, necessitating the establishment of additional dedicated airports to accommodate these unmanned aerial vehicles effectively.