Poland replaces head of unmanned weapon systems inspectorate

Poland's Ministry of National Defence has announced a leadership change within its unmanned systems branch. Brigadier General Mirosław Bodnar is stepping down as the head of the Unmanned Weapon Systems Inspectorate. He will transition to a new role in Brussels, serving as the Deputy Polish Military Representative to NATO and the EU.

Brigadier General Witold Bartoszek, a logistics specialist with experience coordinating equipment supplies for Ukrainian forces, has been appointed as the new inspector. The leadership shift occurs as Poland significantly increases its investment in drone technology, with spending rising from approximately 100 million PLN in 2023 to 23 billion PLN currently.

While Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz stated that General Bodnar “fulfilled the tasks he was assigned,” media reports suggest the dismissal stems from dissatisfaction with the pace of drone integration and a perceived lack of specialized expertise in unmanned systems. Critics have also raised questions regarding the political nature of Bodnar's initial appointment due to his familial connection to former Justice Minister Adam Bodnar.