Poland Enhances Border Security with Advanced US-made Radar Aerostats

Poland has taken a significant step to strengthen its border security by acquiring advanced radar aerostats from the United States to monitor its boundary with Russia. These aerostat-based sensors will significantly bolster airspace monitoring along NATO’s Eastern Flank.

Agreement Details

The agreement, signed on May 22, 2024, involves the procurement of four reconnaissance and early warning aerostats equipped with radars and Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) system transponders and interrogators. This acquisition is part of Poland’s comprehensive Barbara program and is valued at USD 960 million (approximately PLN 4.6 billion). The first Barbara aerostat radar post is scheduled to be operational by July 2026, enhancing Poland’s surveillance and defense capabilities.

Key Contractors

The acquisition involves several key contractors, including Raytheon Intelligence and Space, TCOM L.P., ELTA North America, and Avantus Federal LLC, a division of QinetiQ, Inc. The agreement also covers ground control stations, necessary equipment, logistics and training packages, and technical documentation. Notably, this procurement does not include an offset deal, which streamlines the acquisition process.

Deployment and Capabilities

The four Barbara system aerostats will be strategically deployed in eastern and northeastern Poland, providing comprehensive surveillance capabilities. These aerostats will be able to detect low-level air and naval threats and can remain airborne 24 hours a day, unlike traditional aircraft-based AEW platforms, which are limited by flight endurance and crew fatigue. The Barbara aerostats offer radar coverage extending beyond 300 kilometers, marking a significant upgrade in Poland’s surveillance and early warning systems.

Approval Process

The Polish Ministry of Defense first announced the intent to procure these systems on May 26, 2023. The U.S. State Department approved the transaction on February 7, 2024, followed by U.S. Congress approval. Tomasz Dmitruk from the Polish Dziennik Zbrojny outlet highlighted this process as an excellent example of the efficiency of the FMS procedural framework for urgent acquisitions.

Signing Ceremony

The signing ceremony was attended by prominent officials, including Poland’s Minister of Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, Secretary of State at the MoD Paweł Bejda, US Ambassador to Poland Mark Brzezinski, and Brig. Gen. Artur Kuptel, head of the Armament Agency. This acquisition is a crucial step in Poland’s ongoing efforts to enhance its radar coverage, complementing existing systems such as the gap-filler Saab 340 AEW&C platforms acquired from Sweden.

Future Plans

To manage these new assets, an aerostat radar battalion will be established, headquartered in Czerwony Bór. This battalion will include two support companies and four aerostat posts located in Kurzyna Wielka (Subcarpathian Voivodeship), Biskupiec and Karbowskie (Warmia and Mazury region/Suwałki-Gap), and Pobikry (municipality of Ciechanowiec, Podlachian Voivodeship). This deployment underscores Poland’s commitment to leveraging the unique capabilities of lighter-than-air vehicles to secure its borders and enhance national defense.