The company expects to create more than 100 long-term jobs once the factory reaches full capacity. It will be located in the Pomeranian region near Trójmiasto, though the exact site has not been disclosed.
Kongsberg plans to sign a construction contract by the end of 2026 and start building immediately afterwards. The facility will serve Poland and prospective European customers as part of the company’s global manufacturing network.
“The new facility will support Polish industry and defence capabilities and strengthen Kongsberg’s presence in Poland,” said Eirik Lie, Kongsberg’s president and chief executive. “The facility will be an integrated part of Kongsberg’s global manufacturing network, to serve Poland and other future European customers.”
Kongsberg and consortium partner Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ) signed the SAN contract with Poland’s Armaments Agency on 30 January. It covers 18 counter-drone batteries and is worth approximately NOK 16 billion to Kongsberg.
The batteries will use guns, missiles and interceptor drones to engage aerial threats. Their weapons will include 35 mm, 30 mm and 12.7 mm guns.
Advanced Protection Systems, a PGZ subcontractor, will provide the command-and-control architecture linking sensors and weapons. The system is intended to integrate with Poland’s national air defences.
Kongsberg’s contribution draws on its Protector family, including the MCT30 medium-calibre turret and remote weapon stations. The uncrewed, lightweight and fully digitalised MCT30 is already in full-rate production.
The remote weapon stations supplied for SAN will use 70 mm guided missiles as their primary weapon. Kongsberg, APS and PGZ will also develop integration platforms to support distributed sensor and weapon operations.
“This programme confirms Poland’s position as a regional hub for counter-drone innovation and strengthens KongsbergERGs’ positions as one of Europe’s leading providers of anti-drone solutions,” Lie said in January. “The collaboration between Kongsberg and PGZ demonstrates the companies’ commitment and support to NATO-aligned industrial cooperation to strengthen the European security landscape and anti-drone shield.”
Kongsberg has delivered more than 20,000 Protector systems to more than 30 countries and says all its remote weapon systems in the family are counter-drone capable. The new plant will expand a Polish presence built over more than 15 years.
The company’s existing activities include a Naval Strike Missile sustainment centre at WZE. It has also established numerous partnerships with Polish industry.
