Poland to test long-range military drones and expand UAV training

The Polish Ministry of National Defence is initiating tests of domestic military unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) designed for long-range operations. These tests aim to develop ‘Deep Precision Strike’ capabilities, utilizing relatively inexpensive unmanned systems to strike targets at distances of approximately 1,000 km. Deputy Minister of National Defence Cezary Tomczyk stated that the drones being tested will not be equipped with combat warheads.

The testing will occur in stages, beginning at training grounds before moving to designated aerial corridors. During these flights, residents may receive alerts via the Government Centre for Security (RCB) to inform them of drone activity in their regions. While the systems have a 1,000 km operational capacity, this does not imply every test flight will cover that distance within Polish airspace.

In a related strategic move, Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz announced that drone development and operator training will become a priority for the ministry. A pilot program titled ‘OPW with a drone’ has been launched in 16 secondary schools to train students in military preparation classes. This initiative aims to build a reserve of competent operators, with the Ministry covering 80 percent of equipment costs for quadcopters used in the program.