Russia-Ukraine Conflict: Ukraine Commits to Enhancing Polish Drone Defenses Through Training
In a significant move, Ukrainian Defence Minister Denys Shmyhal and his Polish counterpart Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz have announced a joint training program aimed at strengthening the air defense capabilities of both countries. The announcement comes a week after Polish and NATO forces shot down more than 20 drones violating Poland's airspace during a Russian aerial attack on Ukraine.
The training program, named "Zapat," will take place in Lipa, a village in southern Poland. The training will cover the entire "ecosystem" of intercepting unmanned enemy aerial vehicles, including identifying the locations of enemy drones, electronically jamming them, and downing them with interceptor drones.
Ukraine, known for its world-leading capabilities in countering large Russia drone attacks at a low cost, will provide Poland access to some of its systems for tracking Russian aerial targets. In return, Poland has agreed to train Ukrainian soldiers and engineers in drone defense.
The training is likely a response to the recent Russia aerial attack on Ukraine and the drone incursions into Poland. The drones shot down were cheap, mass-produced drones, and the cost of taking down these drones with fighter jets is much more than what Russia pays to supply and launch them.
Ukraine's interceptor drone countermeasures include a complex layered system involving interceptor drones, heavy machine guns, and electronic warfare. The training for Polish forces will not be limited to interceptor drones but will also cover the broader aspects of drone defense.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is promoting the use of interceptor drones and wants to increase their production with Western help. He believes that this joint training program could potentially enhance the ability of Ukraine and Poland to defend their airspaces from similar attacks in the future.
Russia claims its forces were attacking Ukraine during the drone incursion into Poland. However, the focus of this joint training program is on strengthening the defensive capabilities of Ukraine and Poland against such attacks. The cooperation agreement will be signed with Ukraine's Ministry of Defence.
