Full Breakdown
Kongsberg to Build Counter-Drone Factory in Northern Poland
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Core Investment and Production Plan
Norwegian defence firm Kongsberg announced an investment of more than 200 million zloty (? €45-46 million or $51 million) to construct a manufacturing plant in the Pomeranian region near the Trójmiasto area. The facility will produce and sustain counter-unmanned-aerial-system (C-UAS) equipment for Poland’s SAN programme and is slated to create over 100 long-term jobs. Kongsberg aims to sign a construction contract by the end of 2026, with serial production targeted for the first half of 2028.
Background: Russian Drone Incursions and the SAN Programme
Poland’s defence posture intensified after a wave of around 20 Russian drones breached its airspace in September 2022 and again in early 2026, prompting Warsaw to seek layered, cost-effective counter-drone solutions. The Polish Ministry of National Defence and state-run Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ) signed a contract on 30 January 2026 for the SAN anti-drone system, valued at roughly 15 billion zloty (? $3.8 billion). The programme calls for 18 batteries, 52 firing platoons, 18 command platoons and 703 vehicles, integrating Kongsberg’s Protector remote-weapon stations, guns, missiles and interceptor drones.
Timeline of Key Milestones
- 30 Jan 2026 – SAN contract signed.
- 2 Feb 2026 – Public confirmation of SAN scope and value.
- 13 Oct 2026 – Kongsberg announces the Polish factory investment at the Warsaw Security Forum.
- End 2026 – Planned signing of the construction contract and start of building works.
- First half 2028 – Expected start of serial production.
Data & Statistics
- Investment: > 200 million zloty (? €45-46 million, $51 million).
- Jobs: > 100 permanent positions at full capacity.
- SAN contract size: ? 15 billion zloty; Kongsberg’s share ? 16 billion NOK.
- System composition: 18 batteries, 52 firing platoons, 18 command platoons, 703 vehicles; effectors include 35 mm, 30 mm and 12.7 mm guns, 70 mm guided missiles and interceptor drones.
Official Statements & Responses
Polish defence minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz highlighted the plant’s role in bolstering Poland’s eastern-border security and reinforcing NATO’s eastern flank. The project will be financed largely through loans from the EU’s Security Action for Europe (SAFE) scheme.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The new facility will support Polish industry and defence capabilities and strengthen Kongsberg’s presence in Poland,” — CEO Eirik Lie.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the exact monetary conversion of the investment: some report €45 million, others €46 million, while a U.S. estimate ranges from $50.3 million to $51 million. All agree the figure exceeds 200 million zloty. No public detail has been released regarding the precise site location within the Pomeranian region, and the timeline for EU SAFE loan disbursement remains unspecified.
What’s Next
Kongsberg plans to finalize the construction contract by the end of 2026 and commence building immediately thereafter. Production is scheduled to begin in early 2028, after which the plant could serve additional European customers seeking C-UAS solutions, aligning with NATO efforts to counter the drone threat on the alliance’s eastern border.