Poland develops laser and thermal‑imaging systems to counter drones

Poland is advancing two separate anti‑drone technologies under its national defence programmes. The Automatic Laser Weapon System (ASBL) project, part of the PERUN initiative, is funded with more than 33 million PLN and is being developed by a consortium led by the Military University of Technology together with firms from the Polish Defence Group, including PIT‑Radwar. The system is intended to protect military installations and critical infrastructure by neutralising unmanned aerial vehicles with a concentrated laser beam, complementing conventional missile‑based air‑defence assets.

At the same time, the Polish startup MIRORES, selected among twelve winners of the MilTech programme, is creating a new thermal‑imaging solution for UAVs. Researchers from the Polish Academy of Sciences, Wrocław University of Science and Technology and the University of Warsaw have built a sensor that goes beyond simple temperature measurement, providing spectral analysis to detect anomalies, assess their nature and support rescue operations. The startup cites recent Russian drone incursions over Baltic NATO states as a driver for faster, more reliable threat detection. Both projects aim to enhance Poland’s security posture and reduce reliance on foreign defence supply chains.