Senator of Third Way, Gen. Mirosław Różański, in July sent a letter to the Ministry of National Defense criticizing the value of the SkyCtrl anti-drone system. A whole series of articles aligned with his assessment was published by Onet.pl. According to the company producing the system, these contain falsehoods, half-truths, and myths.
SkyCtrl is a Polish anti-drone system purchased under PiS rule, currently in limited service in the army – just a few sets. It was developed by the Polish company Advanced Protection Systems from Gdynia. Its main tasks are detecting, tracking, and neutralizing drones. It has proven itself in Ukraine under wartime conditions.
This raises the question of how it is being used in Poland. The military does not disclose this, but it is absent from the eastern border.
The Armament Agency (AU) reported in July that the modernization of the SkyCtrl system in service with the Polish Armed Forces had been suspended by a decision of the Technical Modernization Council, after considering reported “remarks and reservations” about the system’s performance.
As Defence24 wrote, requirements are to be supplemented with solutions from other producers active on the market. Other media reported that the Kinetic-Non-Kinetic Anti-Drone Module program was also halted due to insufficient funding.
The Onet Attack
Onet.pl is leading the campaign of “remarks and reservations” against SkyCtrl in the media. “SkyControl was supposed to be a shield, but has become a puzzle. Every day it generates hundreds of false alarms, and its ability to detect drones falls short of the manual” – said journalists Edyta Żemła and Marcin Wyrwał in the portal’s podcast. This duo also wrote yesterday about the “problems” with its use. “How we don’t protect ourselves from Russian drones. We got hold of an important note” – is another article criticizing the system. Żemła and Wyrwał claim that SkyCtrl cannot protect key military bases – including the air base in Łask with F-16 aircraft.
These publications were preceded by Gen. Mirosław Różański’s criticism of SkyCtrl, as the Third Way “defense expert.” The arguments are identical. Unsurprisingly – the Żemła/Wyrwał duo has for years relied heavily on the general’s statements.
Pressure on MON
The general-senator’s stance on SkyCtrl is reflected in a statement submitted by Senator Mirosław Różański at the 38th session of the Senate on July 17, 2025. It was addressed to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz.
“It is widely known that in 2022 the Armament Agency purchased SkyCtrl anti-drone sets from Advanced Protection Systems SA. The need for such a system seems obvious and beyond dispute, yet I am concerned about information reaching me regarding operational problems with the purchased system. Reports mention a very high number of false detections, discontinued operation of the system, and attempts at modernization that drastically reduce the cost-effectiveness of the purchase. According to available information, both MON leadership and the command staff involved in acquiring this capability, including the Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Army and the General Commander of the Armed Forces, have been informed about the operational problems,” he wrote.
He also submitted questions to the Ministry of National Defense suggesting system flaws:
“1. Is it true that the SkyCtrl anti-drone system, purchased a few years ago by the Armament Agency for over 150 million PLN, is malfunctioning, and that this fact has been documented?
2. Since when has MON leadership been aware that SkyCtrl does not function properly? And what actions have been taken in this matter?
3. Is it true that the Armament Agency proposed modernizing this system for 200 million PLN, an amount significantly higher than the original purchase?” wrote Różański to Kosiniak-Kamysz.
So far, the ministry has not responded to the doubts “sown” by Różański.
The General Explains
Niezalezna.pl asked the general why he decided to raise concerns about SkyCtrl and whether he wanted to block its deployment.
“As a parliamentarian, I have the right to request information from all institutions in order to receive answers. The matter of controlling this system stems from publications and messages that have appeared in the media. I see nothing wrong with asking such questions. It is worth knowing what financial resources are being spent on. If the ministry responds that the suggestions in the statement are unfounded, I will be very satisfied,” he said.
Falsehoods and Myths
The allegations made by Onet.pl and Gen. Różański are strongly rejected in an interview with Niezalezna.pl by APS co-founder and COO, Radosław Piesiewicz. “The SkyCtrl system delivered to the army passed all official acceptance and military-operational tests. They were conducted very thoroughly according to methodology prepared by the military. Moreover, the military-operational tests were carried out by the Air Force Academy under the supervision of the General Command and relevant services. A report was produced. These tests are objective – it is clear that the system fully meets all assigned tasks and technical parameters. It is effective. In large numbers in Ukraine, it saves the lives of Ukrainian soldiers. It is highly praised” – said Piesiewicz.
He added that evolving battlefield threats involving drones require system modernization. According to him, Onet’s publications contain “out-of-context claims, falsehoods, half-truths, myths.”
What causes the unjustified criticism of SkyCtrl? “Looking at the market, competition is very active. It is obvious that anti-drone systems need to be implemented on a large scale. We are talking about big money,” Piesiewicz said.
Onet and Różański’s Diagnoses
It is worth recalling that the head of the Senate Defense Committee, Gen. Mirosław Różański, previously argued that the creation of Territorial Defense Forces “has many flaws and is structurally doomed to failure,” and claimed that establishing a permanent US base in Poland “increases the threat to our security.” He also suggested that some arms contracts should be reviewed or even canceled if the opposition takes power in Poland.
Różański has excellent contacts with MON under Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz. The Security and Development Foundation Stratpoints, founded by generals Jarosław Stróżyk (now head of the Military Counterintelligence Service) and Mirosław Różański, received 64,000 PLN in funding from the Ministry of National Defense for… an integration trip. This is yet another grant for the foundation. As Niezalezna.pl reported in December, the Stratpoints Foundation received 130,000 PLN for the project “Christmas with Heroes.”
Onet journalists Edyta Żemła and Marcin Wyrwał have already attacked very good and effective Polish defense solutions. In 2021 they tried to prove that the flagship Polish rifle Grot “rusts, overheats, jams when clogged with sand, its stock breaks on impact, and some defects make it impossible to shoot.” These claims were debunked, among others, by Defence24 journalists.