Poland is already nearing completion of its own version of the iranian-russian Shahed-type drone under the PLargonia project. Bringing it to full operational readiness will be a primary task for the newly established Autonomous Systems Center (OSA).
According to Defence24, citing Polish officials speaking at the signing ceremony for the center’s creation, the organization will be responsible for integrating ground, aerial, surface, and underwater unmanned systems into the Polish Armed Forces.
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As early as April, the new center is set to conduct trials of drone detection, tracking, and neutralization systems, along with various strike UAVs from more than a dozen companies. The tested solutions are expected to be fielded within months.
Polish officials describe the Autonomous Systems Center as a mechanism to accelerate the removal of administrative barriers that slow the deployment of new technologies to the military. The initiative aims to combine the capabilities of research institutions, industry, and the armed forces.
Unmanned systems presented during at the OSA launch ceremony. / Photo credit: Defence24
From the perspective of Defense Express, this approach closely resembles Ukraine’s Brave1, which is also designed to support the development and testing of defense technologies. A key emphasis is placed on reducing bureaucratic friction to speed up innovation.
At the same time, Poland’s Autonomous Systems Center is primarily focused on unmanned systems rather than the broader defense tech sector. However, such specialization is expected, as it enables faster progress in priority areas.
Polish Shahed-type drone under the PLargonia project / Photo credit: @MStrembski
As for Poland’s Shahed analogue, this refers to the PLargonia project, first unveiled in September 2025. The drone reportedly has a maximum range of up to 900 km, a cruising speed of around 185 km/h, and a payload capacity of approximately 16–20 kg.
It should also be noted that Poland is actively developing counter-drone capabilities. For example, it has ordered South Korean KLTV platforms for the production of SAN systems. At the same time, the country is facing complications, as its president has blocked participation in European defense loans under the SAFE program.
From the Defense Express side, we urge readers to join a fundraiser for a solution that is already proving effective: the One United Fundraiser, organized by the Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation to support interceptor drones.
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