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Pages: 110+
Poland’s unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) ecosystem has undergone a profound transformation in recent years, marked by an aggressive procurement of UAV systems and the simultaneous strengthening of counter-drone detection capabilities. The sharp rise in hostile drone incidents across NATO’s eastern flank, combined with heightened tensions near the Ukrainian border, has compelled Poland to prioritize national security through advanced counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS). As the Polish defence sector channels substantial investments into radar-based surveillance and multi-sensor detection systems, the drone detection system market is entering a phase of rapid consolidation.
By 2033, the Poland Drone Detection System Market is projected to reach approximately USD 482.7 million, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.8% from 2025 to 2033. This forecast reflects Poland’s strategic defence spending surge, particularly post-2022, where integration of sophisticated radar arrays, electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) systems, and RF-spectrum monitoring gained precedence. Increased public procurement for both fixed and mobile drone detection platforms, along with swarm detection technologies, is enhancing perimeter security at military bases, airfields, and cross-border checkpoints. With NATO-aligned modernization goals and a focus on domestic defence production, Poland is evolving into a high-potential hub for drone detection innovation.
The rapid adoption of drone detection technologies in Poland is strongly influenced by national imperatives surrounding public safety and infrastructure resilience. In recent years, the country has witnessed an uptrend in mass event surveillance—particularly during political gatherings, religious pilgrimages, and international sports events—where drone incursions posed significant risks to crowd safety and VIP protection. As such, RF-based detection platforms and radar fusion systems are increasingly being deployed in urban event management frameworks to ensure real-time threat neutralization.
Beyond event security, the safeguarding of energy infrastructure, airports, data centres, and government institutions has become a key operational objective. With Poland hosting vital European oil pipelines and power grids, drone-based reconnaissance and sabotage attempts present critical vulnerabilities. To mitigate this, authorities are turning toward interoperable and mobile counter-drone units, embedded with acoustic triangulation and RF-signal geolocation to secure utility perimeters and transport nodes. This surge in sector-wide deployment illustrates how defence-led priorities are increasingly intersecting with civil infrastructure strategies to form a cohesive drone detection ecosystem.
Despite robust momentum, the Poland drone detection system market faces several notable impediments. A persistent challenge lies in the limitations of EO/IR systems under adverse weather or night conditions—especially in border surveillance operations across Poland’s fog-prone eastern terrains. These environmental interferences often degrade the fidelity of thermal signatures, resulting in lower object recognition accuracy and extended response times.
Moreover, false alarms generated by overlapping RF frequencies—common in dense urban environments—remain a key constraint to the reliability of detection systems. Unfiltered detection of non-threatening UAVs such as commercial drones, delivery bots, or agricultural UAVs frequently triggers unnecessary escalations or public disruption. These issues are further compounded by the absence of unified data sharing between agencies, which inhibits the creation of a synchronized national UAV threat database. To overcome such barriers, Polish agencies must accelerate the integration of multi-sensor data fusion engines and AI-enabled discrimination algorithms to reduce false positives while enhancing real-time situational awareness.
Emerging trends such as swarm detection capabilities and radar interoperability are expected to shape the future trajectory of the Polish drone detection industry. With adversaries increasingly leveraging drone swarms for simultaneous intrusion, the market is pivoting toward radar systems that can track multiple aerial targets with high accuracy. This includes integration of pulse-Doppler radar and machine learning-based trajectory prediction modules that enable precise differentiation between birds, drones, and other airborne objects.
Additionally, opportunities are emerging around defence-industrial collaboration. Poland’s domestic defence sector is poised to benefit from military radar integration with existing counter-UAV platforms. Such bundled offerings are being tested in operational environments near Poland’s eastern border, where radar-equipped C-UAS systems provide round-the-clock surveillance. As military contracts increasingly mandate modularity and interoperability, companies capable of offering plug-and-play solutions will likely gain a competitive edge. Furthermore, partnerships with NATO-aligned allies and technology exchanges under European Defense Fund (EDF) programs could unlock cross-border R&D opportunities, spurring localized innovation.
Government regulation has played a catalytic role in aligning Poland’s drone detection strategy with broader European security directives. Under the National Defence Strategy (2020–2035), the Ministry of National Defence has endorsed comprehensive investment in anti-drone infrastructure, particularly in critical zones such as the Suwałki Gap and Eastern Operational Districts. Complementing this is the recent mandate under Poland’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which enforces stringent UAV operation zones and empowers local agencies to deploy detection hardware at sensitive sites.
The implementation of real-time drone registry systems, “U-Space” protocols, and harmonization with European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) guidelines has improved airspace situational awareness and enabled automated drone threat alerts. These policies collectively foster an enabling environment for C-UAS technology deployment and encourage deeper collaboration between public agencies and private detection solution providers.
The intensifying geopolitical context in Eastern Europe, particularly the proximity to the Russo-Ukrainian conflict, has significantly accelerated Poland’s defence expenditure trajectory. In 2024, Poland’s defence budget surged past 4% of GDP—one of the highest in the EU—indicating long-term investment in border surveillance technologies. This includes procurement of drone detection systems with automatic dependent surveillance–broadcast (ADS-B) capabilities to complement traditional radar systems across remote border regions.
The frequency of unauthorized UAV incursions has also seen an uptick. According to the Polish Border Guard, over 400 UAV incidents were recorded between 2022 and 2024, many linked to surveillance, smuggling, or cross-border psychological operations. In response, the Polish government has prioritized rapid procurement cycles for mobile counter-UAS units, especially in areas bordering Belarus and Ukraine. These operational imperatives are reshaping national security doctrines and reinforcing the drone detection sector as a high-value, defence-critical industry segment.
The competitive landscape of Poland’s drone detection system market is becoming increasingly defined by public-private partnerships, cross-border collaborations, and large-scale defence contracting. Key international players such as Dedrone, Hensoldt, and Thales have entered the Polish market, either directly or through local integrators. In October 2023, the Polish Ministry of Defense signed a €50 million counter-UAS contract for integrated detection systems focused on border defence. This exemplifies Poland’s procurement model of combining foreign expertise with domestic deployment capabilities.
Local companies like WB Group and PIT-RADWAR have also strengthened their portfolio through indigenous radar and RF detection modules, co-developed with military research institutes. These firms are actively bidding for multi-phase contracts related to airbase protection and airport surveillance. Additionally, system bundling strategies—where radar, acoustic, and EO/IR detection are offered as unified platforms—are becoming more prevalent. Such integrated offerings not only reduce deployment complexity but also align with Poland’s strategy for rapid scalability and NATO interoperability.
In conclusion, the Poland Drone Detection System Market stands at the confluence of geopolitical necessity, defence modernization, and regulatory alignment. The country’s firm commitment to bolstering its aerial sovereignty—backed by state budgets, multi-sensor system procurement, and cross-sector collaborations—sets a clear trajectory for market expansion through 2033. As swarm threats escalate and cross-border drone incursions grow in frequency, Poland’s focus on radar interoperability, military radar integration, and urban deployment will continue to reshape the region’s drone detection landscape.