Norwegian defense company Kongsberg plans to establish a new manufacturing facility in northern Poland dedicated to counter-drone technology, committing more than 200 million zloty (approximately $51 million) to the project.
The planned investment supports Kongsberg’s partnership with Poland’s state-owned defense group Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ) to supply the Polish armed forces with the San counter-drone system.
Speaking to Defense News at the Warsaw Security Forum on October 12, Kongsberg President and CEO Eirik Lie said the company had maintained a long-standing presence in Poland and viewed expanding its local industrial footprint as an important step. He noted that deliveries under the San program were progressing well and said the new facility would also help the company prepare for potential export orders.
The San agreement, worth approximately PLN 15 billion ($3.8 billion), calls for Kongsberg and PGZ to provide the Polish military with 18 counter-drone batteries, 52 firing platoons, 18 command platoons and 703 vehicles, according to Poland’s Ministry of National Defence. Much of the procurement will be financed through loans obtained by Poland under the European Union’s Security Action for Europe (SAFE) initiative.
With concerns about drone incursions growing across Europe, Kongsberg anticipates a substantial increase in demand for counter-drone capabilities over the coming years. The company also sees the Polish facility as a potential manufacturing base for additional defense products in the future.
Lie said Kongsberg intends to build on the new plant’s capabilities and potentially expand its role to cover other parts of the company’s defense portfolio.
According to a company statement, Kongsberg aims to finalize the construction agreement by the end of 2026, with building work scheduled to begin immediately afterward. Production of counter-drone systems on a serial basis could start during the first half of 2028. Once operating at full capacity, the facility is expected to employ more than 100 people in Poland.
