Poland Purchases FlyEye Recon UAVs, Plans $1.7B Order for K9 Howitzer Support Vehicles

The Polish Armed Forces will strengthen their reconnaissance capabilities with the addition of 52 FlyEye unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) following the signing of a new contract valued at approximately PLN 100 million ($24.4 million).

The agreement, finalized on November 15, at the Ministry of National Defense, ensures delivery of the drones by the end of the year.

The FlyEye UAVs, equipped with optoelectronic systems for both daylight and thermal imaging reconnaissance, have already proven effective in operational and territorial defense missions, including during military operations in Ukraine.

The agreement forms part of a broader framework to procure 400 FlyEye UAV sets in stages, allowing the Polish Armed Forces to acquire progressively advanced versions as technology evolves. The drones, designed for both military and non-military applications, are supplied by Polish company WB Electronics.

This procurement aligns with the government’s 50/50 rule, which ensures that half of defense spending is allocated to domestic industries.

Deputy Minister of National Defense Paweł Bejda reiterated the government's commitment to domestic military production, noting that additional contracts, including a PLN 7 billion ($1.7 billion) deal for vehicles supporting K9 howitzers, are expected to be signed before the year ends. In total, approximately 40 new defense contracts are planned for 2024, further boosting the Polish defense sector.

Earlier this week, the Polish army received 12 K9A1 Thunder 155mm self-propelled artillery systems as part of a contract signed in August 2022 for 212 units, with deliveries scheduled from 2022 to 2026. These systems will be upgraded to the K9PL variant, developed by PGZ and Hanwha Defense. Starting in 2026, around 460 K9PL systems will be produced locally at a new facility. The contract also includes K10 ARV and K11 FDCV support vehicles for automated ammunition replenishment. The Polish versions will feature the C2 integrated control system and TOPAZ automatic fire control kit to ensure compatibility with command vehicles.

By late October, Poland had already received 108 systems, with the most recent delivery of 12 units on October 7. In the same month, Polish forces deployed K9A1 systems abroad for the first time during the AKKTULI-24 exercise in Estonia.