On Thursday, April 24, 2025, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz met with Polish manufacturers of unmanned weapons systems. The meeting was attended by Deputy Ministers Cezary Tomczyk and Paweł Bejda, along with senior representatives of the armed forces. The event, held at the 1st Warsaw Armored Brigade in Warsaw-Wesoła, provided an opportunity to become familiar with the latest developments in unmanned systems (Polish Unmanned Aerial System Wizjer Presented in Wesoła).
Photo: Jakub Link-Lenczowski, MILMAG
“We are here as the leadership of the Ministry of National Defence, but we are also joined by generals and commanders of the Polish Armed Forces. Why this lineup? Because the matter at hand is extremely important. It is one of the most critical issues in the history of the Polish military — the modernization of the Polish Armed Forces and the long-term strategy for both the military and national security. There will be no secure Poland without a drone army — drones that fly, move on water, underwater, and on land. In all domains, across all units, every soldier of the Polish Armed Forces will work with drones. That is our ambition. That is our goal. We see what is happening in Ukraine. We see how Ukraine has absorbed — if I may use that word — the concept of arming itself with drones and counter-drone systems,” emphasized Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz during his visit to the 1st Warsaw Armored Brigade.
“For the first time in the history of our armed forces, we have invited all these companies — the most significant, the most advanced ones. Around 40 companies came to us here today in Wesoła, near Warsaw. We had the opportunity to get acquainted with each of them and with every product. I’m very grateful for that. This is part of our grand strategy: building an army made up of hundreds of thousands of drones, and having the capacity to produce millions. It’s a strategy that will ensure our access to the latest equipment. Drones evolve rapidly, their capabilities increase quickly — and companies are constantly releasing new versions. To stay up to date, it’s not feasible to buy large quantities of drones for so-called stockpiling. Of course, they must be delivered continuously — for training purposes, for skill development. Both the smallest and the largest ones that are with us here today — reconnaissance drones, strike drones, kamikaze drones — across all domains. This is extremely important to us,” said Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz following the presentation.
Photo: Jakub Link-Lenczowski, MILMAG
During the visit, both a static display of equipment and a dynamic demonstration of selected unmanned systems were presented. Manufacturers showcased the practical use of drones in various tactical scenarios.
The development of drone forces is a top priority for the Ministry of National Defence leadership. Preparations for the concept of establishing the Unmanned Weapons Systems Component (BSU) have been underway since early 2024. As a formal component of the Polish Armed Forces, the drone forces officially began operations on January 1, 2025.
Photo: Jakub Link-Lenczowski, MILMAG
“General Bodnar already has a team composed of individuals from various branches of the armed forces — experienced soldiers. The second important point is that we have true enthusiasts within the ranks of the Polish Armed Forces. And we are not lacking in those. Today I also had a chance to speak briefly with some of them. They are real drone fanatics — not only are they highly skilled operators, but they also know how to build them. We are also simplifying procedures related to design and production — we’re equipping units with 3D printers. This is part of our broader strategy,” emphasized the Deputy Prime Minister.
By decision of Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence, the Inspectorate for Unmanned Weapons Systems was established within the Armed Forces General Command. It is led by Brigadier General Mirosław Bodnar, the Inspector for Unmanned Systems at the General Command.
Photo: Jakub Link-Lenczowski, MILMAG
“The real skill lies in buying wisely. The Polish companies exhibiting here today represent the direction we want to take. We want technological innovation to remain in Poland. We want jobs to be created here, and only the growth of these companies will make technological development possible. There is no other way. If we choose only to make off-the-shelf purchases from various countries around the world without developing the Polish defense industry, then in times of crisis we will find ourselves in a very difficult situation. Today, it’s clear that supply chains and the proximity of companies developing alongside the military are key to securing this drone revolution — because it truly is a revolution. A technological revolution, and one in which Polish companies are now participating on a massive scale,” emphasized Deputy Minister Cezary Tomczyk.
Photo: Jakub Link-Lenczowski, MILMAG
“The unmanned forces were established on January 1 of this year by decision of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz. Today, we are meeting at the 1st Warsaw Armored Brigade in Wesoła. We have 40 companies here that produce drones — but, as people often think drones are only what flies — it’s not just about flying systems. These drones apply to all branches of the military, meaning everything that moves underwater, on the water, across the land, and in the air. And today, we have exhibitors here: companies, research institutes, both private and state-owned enterprises, showing us the level of capability they have already achieved,” said Deputy Minister Paweł Bejda.
Unmanned BIZON from ITWL / Photo: Jakub Link-Lenczowski, MILMAG
Brigadier General Mirosław Bodnar, Inspector for Unmanned Systems at the Polish Armed Forces General Command, thanked the companies that showcased their products. He emphasized that the war in Ukraine demonstrates the need for close, almost shoulder-to-shoulder cooperation between the military and industry. He announced that details of this cooperation would be presented at the conference on April 25.
Photo Gallery of the Ministry of National Defence (Photo: Master Corporal Wojciech Król/Polish MoD):
