Poland's Stalled Anti-Drone Program Forces NATO Fighter Use

Director of Poland's National Centre for Research and Development, Prof. Jerzy Małachowski, said a political decision in 2020 halted a near‑complete anti‑drone program that combined jamming and directed‑energy technologies. He argued that, had the program continued, the costly deployment of NATO fighter jets to counter Russian drones on the night of 9‑10 September 2025 could have been avoided.

During that incursion, about 20 Russian drones entered Polish airspace and were intercepted by Polish and allied forces, including U.S. F‑35 fighters flown by Dutch pilots stationed in Poland. Małachowski criticized the decision‑maker, calling the six‑year delay a waste and urging accountability. The NCBR now runs 35 drone‑related projects and plans to spend more than 1.5 billion PLN in 2025‑2026 on defense, security and dual‑use technologies.