"Creation of drone forces is becoming a reality." Poland buys U.S. SkyGuardian drones

Amid the conflict in Ukraine, Poland is making large purchases of equipment and weapons, and in 2025 defence spending is set to reach 4.7% of GDP.

On Thursday (December 12), an agreement was signed for the purchase of American MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones for the Polish Armed Forces. The contract was signed between the Armament Agency and the American company General Atomics.

"Several months ago, I announced the creation of drone forces. This is becoming a reality - starting January 1, these forces will function not as a plan but as an operational part of the Polish Armed Forces," Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said during the signing ceremony.

He stressed that building drone forces, in cooperation with the U.S., is an essential priority. "Effective deterrence and defense are impossible today without investing in this type of force."

"This is state-of-the-art technology, and it comes at a cost - around 1.2 billion zlotys, or 310 million dollars, for several of these machines. It's a significant expenditure, but we are investing in the best equipment," he added.

The minister highlighted that the MQ-9B SkyGuardian drone can reach an altitude of 15 kilometers, with a maximum speed of about 480 km/h and a flight endurance of approximately 20 hours. "Its primary purpose is reconnaissance operations, but it can also perform strike missions if necessary," he explained.

Kosiniak-Kamysz described the acquisition as an investment in Poland's security and its strategic partnership with the United States. "This is critical for us because Poland is not only investing in its defense industry but also strengthening economic ties with our allies," he emphasized.

He underlined that drones will be utilized across various domains, including land, sea, and water-based operations, as needed. "Drone forces will have an impact in all domains," he said.

The defense minister also announced that additional agreements would be signed almost daily until the end of the year, with the next one scheduled for Friday at Warsaw’s Okęcie Airport, though he did not provide further details.

The new MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones are set to replace the older MQ-9A Reapers currently leased from the U.S. These leased drones, which arrived in early 2023 at the Mirosławiec Air Base, are primarily used for aerial reconnaissance, including optical monitoring and radio-electronic surveillance.

The leasing agreement had always included provisions for Poland to utilize the Reapers until its own drones were procured. The newly ordered MQ-9B drones are expected to arrive by the first quarter of 2027. The exact number of drones ordered remains undisclosed, but they will form a complete system.

The MQ-9B SkyGuardian represents a more advanced iteration of the MQ-9A Reaper. According to the manufacturer, the MQ-9B can operate in all weather conditions and remain airborne for over 40 hours.

The drone has a wingspan of 24 meters and a payload capacity of about 2.5 tons. Besides reconnaissance equipment, the MQ-9B can carry weapons, including Hellfire, JAGM, and Brimstone missiles designed to neutralize ground targets.