On Thursday, March 19, 2026, in Warsaw, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, together with Secretary of State at the Ministry of National Defence Cezary Tomczyk, took part in the signing of an agreement establishing the Autonomous Systems Center (OSA). The event, which took place at the headquarters of the Air Force Institute of Technology (ITWL), marked the launch of the new science-and-industry center. The center was established by military research institutes, the IDEAS Research Institute, and the Polish Armaments Group (PGZ), with the Air Force Institute of Technology assuming the role of project leader.
Photo: Krzysztof Gumul/WCEO
“OSA is getting underway. OSA, the Autonomous Systems Center, brings together the skills and capabilities of military institutes, research institutes, the armed forces, and our defense industry – the Polish Armaments Group. This is an extraordinary moment, when major breakthroughs will be combined with practical application and production. The task of OSA, which is launching today, is to take all the research already underway in institutions, all the innovations developed by small companies, scientists, and enthusiasts, test them as quickly as possible, pass them on to the military for testing, and implement them in mass production if they meet our needs and expectations. We are joining forces,” said Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz during the ceremony at the Air Force Institute of Technology.
“OSA is also meant to overcome administrative barriers. OSA is here to speed up implementation in the armed forces, so as not to lose a single day, and to make use of Ukrainian experience. Over four years of Russia’s brutal aggression against its territory, the Ukrainian army has undergone the greatest transformation in its history. (…) That experience must not be wasted. We do not need to go through such a brutal lesson ourselves. Let us benefit from that experience – and that is also what OSA is for,” Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz emphasized during the inauguration of the center’s operations.
The main task of the Autonomous Systems Center will be to coordinate cooperation between the military, the scientific sector, and the defense industry.
OSA’s operation is intended to significantly shorten the process of moving from concepts and technology demonstrators to ready-made solutions suitable for operational use on the battlefield. By integrating national technological potential, including start-ups and research institutions, the center will enable the systematic selection and validation of unmanned systems. The center’s activities will also help reduce technological risk and optimize project costs by conducting comprehensive testing before equipment is introduced into the military procurement system.
“We are in the final stage of work – and here I would like to proudly announce – on a Polish ‘Shahed’ under the PLargonia program. The project is underway, and that name – used colloquially in the context of equipment currently used in Ukraine or the Middle East — aptly reflects the nature of its capabilities. This is the first project for OSA that must be brought to full usability as quickly as possible. As early as April, tests of various systems will take place at the training ground in Ustka. Importantly, we are also inviting private entities, young scientists, and teams to present their solutions. We will test them,” the head of the Ministry of National Defence announced.
The center will also serve as a contact point for entities developing autonomous technologies, which will make it easier to organize cooperation and implement innovations in the field of national defense.
“Drones, drones, and more drones – this is today a clear signal to all of us that these capabilities must be built intensively. In 2023, the Ministry of National Defence allocated around 100 million PLN to unmanned systems. In 2024, the first year of our government, it was already 300 million PLN. In 2025, 700 million PLN. And in 2026, this is a ‘drone highway.’ We assume that around PLN 25 billion will be allocated to drones, unmanned systems, autonomous systems, and counter-drone systems in terms of the contracts we will sign this year,” said Deputy Minister of National Defence Cezary Tomczyk.
