On Tuesday, February 10, 2026, the Innovation Department of the Polish Ministry of National Defence announced that since the launch of the National Deterrence and Defense Program – Eastern Shield, a total of 660 submissions have been received. Of these, 628 projects have been classified into key technological areas, including military engineering and infrastructure (234 projects), sensors and effectors (167), unmanned weapons systems (140), and communications and cybersecurity (119).
The East Shield program is becoming one of the most important mechanisms for the rapid acquisition of innovative technologies for the Polish Armed Forces / Image: Ministry of National Defence
The scale of submissions confirms strong industry interest in cooperating with the military. Solutions have been proposed by both large enterprises and startups, including domestic and foreign entities. Among the submissions are technologies directly addressing current operational needs, as well as solutions developed within proprietary supply chains, thereby strengthening national resilience and the domestic technological sector.
Following a multi-stage review conducted by six specialized Working Groups, 92 projects were selected to advance to the next stages. These include technologies in the areas of strike and force protection, as well as unmanned strike systems (45 projects); mobility and military engineering (16); passive radar and acoustic reconnaissance (13); electronic warfare (7); command, control, communications, and cybersecurity systems (9); and logistics infrastructure. The Innovation Department of the Ministry of National Defence coordinates and monitors the work of the Working Groups, ensuring an efficient process for technology selection and testing.
The next phase will involve operational testing, to be conducted, among others, as part of the Amber Defender-26 exercise federation, building on experience from the Iron Gate-25 exercise and standardized methodologies set out in Decision No. 123/MON. These tests will not only assess the usefulness of technologies under conditions similar to real military operations but will also provide companies with detailed feedback to support further development of their solutions.
The program’s implementation is also supported by new legal regulations. The Act of July 25, 2025 on strategic defense investments allows, following testing and approval by the Minister of National Defence, the acquisition of unmanned weapons systems and counter-UAS measures without applying standard public procurement procedures. These measures significantly shorten the time from innovation submission to deployment within the Polish Armed Forces.
The program has already delivered tangible results. In December last year, following testing and qualification procedures, the Polish Armed Forces acquired 50 FPV drone sets (250 units) for training purposes. At the same time, urgent operational procedures are underway to procure additional technologies, including passive radars, acoustic systems, and counter-UAS solutions.
The Innovation Department of the Ministry of National Defence is also actively identifying key technological gaps. In 2025, it issued calls to industry seeking solutions particularly in the areas of ground, air, and maritime drones, unmanned systems supporting engineering tasks, and drones for detecting CBRN contamination. In 2026, the program is primarily focused on ready-made solutions with the highest levels of technological readiness that can be rapidly introduced into service with the Polish Armed Forces.
The program is also linked with allied initiatives, including the NATO DIANA accelerator. Entities developing interoperable technologies within the Fort Kraków center are encouraged to participate in testing under the Eastern Shield program, strengthening international cooperation and accelerating the implementation of solutions relevant to the security of the entire Alliance (Poland Opens Fort Kraków – DIANA Defence Innovation Accelerator).
The innovation implementation process under the program follows a comprehensive pathway — from solution submission, expert analysis, qualification for testing, and operational trials, to recommendation for Ministry leadership and a final deployment decision. The program not only enables rapid acquisition of new technologies but also allows companies to refine solutions in line with the military’s real operational requirements.
For 2026, the ambition of the Ministry’s Innovation Department is to conduct operational testing of selected technologies and present recommendations regarding their deployment within the Polish Armed Forces. The Eastern Shield program serves as a significant complement to the traditional technical modernization model, enabling faster implementation of innovations and strengthening national defense capabilities in the face of contemporary threats.
Tarcza Wschód to długofalowy projekt wzmacniania bezpieczeństwa wschodniej granicy Polski. Podczas spotkania Zespołu Sterującego ds. #TarczaWschód rozmawialiśmy z ministrami i ekspertami na temat kolejnych etapów budowy zabezpieczeń.
To projekt, który łączy bezpieczeństwo z…
— Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz (@KosiniakKamysz) February 9, 2026
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