Poland's SAN Counter-Drone Program Faces Delivery Questions as PGZ Rejects Delay Claims

Poland's €3.5 billion SAN counter-drone program is facing renewed scrutiny after local media reported that the first operational systems may not reach the armed forces until 2027, despite earlier expectations of initial deliveries before the end of this year.

The reports, published on November 6, have prompted a response from Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ), the state-owned defense group leading the program alongside Norway's Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace.

PGZ maintains that the project is proceeding according to the schedule agreed with the Polish Armament Agency, while the Ministry of National Defense has indicated that deliveries will begin in 2027.

The dispute highlights the complexity of one of Europe's largest counter-unmanned aircraft programs, which aims to integrate radar sensors, electronic warfare capabilities, guns, missiles and interceptor drones into a common air defense architecture.

Command-and-Control Software Under Scrutiny

According to Polish newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza, the principal concern involves the SkyView command-and-control software being developed by Polish technology company Advanced Protection Systems (APS).

The software is intended to connect SAN's various sensors and weapons, allowing operators to detect, track, classify and engage aerial threats through an integrated command network.

Military sources cited by the newspaper suggested that software development may be taking longer than expected, potentially affecting the integration of the system's different components.

These claims have not been independently confirmed.

APS has previously rejected suggestions of delays in its work on SAN.

In an October interview with the Polish Press Agency, APS co-founder and CEO Maciej Klemm said the company was meeting its contractual milestones and that work assigned to APS remained on schedule.

PGZ reiterated its position on November 6, stating that the program was being implemented according to the timetable agreed with the customer.

The conflicting assessments leave an important distinction between component development, factory testing, equipment delivery and the achievement of operational readiness.

Initial Delivery Milestones Shift Into Focus

The SAN contract, signed on January 30, 2026, covers 18 counter-drone battery modules and is valued at approximately PLN 15 billion.

Earlier contractual information indicated that the first three fire platoons were expected by the end of 2026, with subsequent deliveries following over the next two years.

According to the latest reporting, Poland's Defense Ministry now expects factory acceptance testing of three platoons to take place before the end of 2026, while physical deliveries to the armed forces will begin in 2027.

Factory testing does not necessarily mean that a complete battery has been delivered or achieved combat readiness.

That distinction is particularly relevant to a program involving equipment manufactured by multiple companies and requiring extensive software and hardware integration.

The Polish authorities have not publicly established whether the revised milestones constitute a formal contractual delay.

Polish and Norwegian Companies Share Industrial Roles

SAN is being developed by a consortium led by PGZ and Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, with APS serving as a major Polish subcontractor.

The system is intended to provide a scalable defense against unmanned aircraft, including smaller drones that would be expensive to intercept using traditional air defense missiles.

Its architecture will combine radar surveillance, electronic warfare, guns, guided missiles and drone interceptors.

Polish manufacturers are responsible for important parts of the weapons, vehicles and sensor infrastructure, while Kongsberg contributes its PROTECTOR weapon systems and additional integration expertise.

APS provides radar technology and command-and-control capabilities.

The program also involves a substantial supply chain of specialized components. In September, AdriaDefense reported that Advanced Navigation had secured a €16 million contract to supply navigation systems for Kongsberg platforms supporting SAN.

Those systems are designed to maintain positioning and orientation in environments where satellite navigation may be disrupted.

SAN Remains Central to Poland's Eastern Defense

The program is an important element of Poland's effort to strengthen defenses along its eastern border.

Unlike high-end missile systems designed primarily for larger aircraft and more sophisticated threats, SAN is intended to provide additional interception options against relatively inexpensive unmanned aircraft.

Its effectiveness will depend not only on the performance of individual weapons but also on the ability of sensors, command software and engagement systems to operate together.

Questions surrounding the delivery timetable therefore carry implications beyond the first production milestone.

For Poland's defense industry, SAN represents a major opportunity to develop advanced counter-drone technology and expand domestic manufacturing capabilities. For the military, its success will ultimately be measured by the delivery of integrated systems capable of responding to increasingly complex aerial threats.

The immediate question is whether the program's remaining integration and testing milestones can be completed without affecting the deployment schedule agreed between the government and its industrial partners.