Summary: Poland has significantly upgraded its military hardware, importing platforms like the M1 Abrams and K2 Black Panther tanks, F-35 fighters, and potentially F-15EX Eagle II jets. Poland has also enhanced its drone capabilities, recently receiving the final set of 24 Baykar Bayraktar TB2 drones from Turkey, under a $270 million deal.

-The TB2 drones, noted for their role in Ukraine, offer advanced avionics, autonomous operation, and the ability to carry precision-guided munitions, making Poland a rising drone powerhouse in NATO.

Poland Boosts Military Might with Advanced Bayraktar TB2 Drones

The Polish military has become a major importer of platforms from around the world as it replaces its aging Soviet-era hardware. Polish purchases include American M1 Abrams and South Korean K2 Black Panther main battle tanks, and Warsaw has joined other NATO allies in acquiring the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fifth-generation stealth fighter. In addition, the Polish Air Force is likely to operate the Boeing-made F-15EX Eagle II, an enhanced derivative of the F-15E Strike Eagle.

Poland is also now a drone powerhouse. 

This month, the Polish Armaments Agency announced that it received the last of 24 Baykar Bayraktar TB2 armed drones from NATO ally Turkey.

"The Secretary of State in the Ministry of National Defense, Pawe Bejda, together with representatives of the Polish Armed Forces, took part in the ceremony of completing the delivery of the last, fourth set of the Bayraktar TB2 unmanned reconnaissance and strike system," the Agency said in a statement, according to a report from Janes. 

The Bayraktar TB2 garnered much media attention in early 2022 after the Ukrainian military used it to counter invading Russian forces. 

Warsaw signed a $270 million deal with Turkey-based Baykar in May 2021 for the drones and associated support equipment. The total package comprised four systems that each include six unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and three ground stations. The initial six TB2s and a ground control unit were delivered to Poland in October 2022 and entered service with the 12th Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Base, according to Defense News.

As part of the sale to Warsaw, Ankara will also transfer depot-level maintenance capabilities for the Bayraktar TB2 to the Polish military, The Aviationist reported. These include maintenance and repair tools for the engines, ground control stations, and EO/IR sensors.

The Bayraktar TB2 is a medium-altitude, long-endurance drone that can be employed in a variety of roles, including Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance; target identification for artillery; and precision strikes against high-value targets. According to Defense News, the UAS is equipped with an advanced avionics suite that allows the drone to engage in autonomous taxiing, takeoff, landing, and cruising. The drone is not dependent on GPS and is outfitted with an auto-pilot feature.

The armed TB2 can be operated remotely from up to 185 miles from a target. It has a maximum ceiling of 25,000 feet and an endurance of 27 hours. The drone can carry a payload of approximately 150 kilograms (330 pounds), including laser-guided bombs or rockets. Though it has a lower radar cross section than other drones in its size, the TB2 is vulnerable to advanced air defense systems.

Author Experience and Expertise: Peter Suciu 

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].

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