"We agree with the idea of strengthening the defence of the skies over the entire European Union and are willing to consider external proposals or solutions," Tomczyk said in an interview with the Bloomberg news agency.
"But we give priority to national projects," he added.
The ministry plans to invest in technologies for "detecting, jamming and neutralising" drones as part of a broader air defence programme, according to Bloomberg.
The first capabilities are expected to be operational within three months of the project's launch, with the full system completed within two years.
"A counter-drone weapon must be comprehensive," Tomczyk said. "It should consist of various sensors and effectors operating simultaneously, first detecting and identifying objects, and then neutralising them."
Tomczyk added that at least half of the contracts for the Polish anti-drone system should go to domestic companies.
He said the programme would be financed through the EU’s new SAFE defence loan scheme, under which Poland has access to EUR 43.7 billion (USD 50.8 billion), the largest allocation among member states.
Tomczyk noted that lessons from the war in Ukraine have underscored the urgency of boosting Poland's drone defences.
"The way in which both Russians and Ukrainians are using unmanned weapon systems today shows that strengthening our capabilities in this area must be a priority in all spheres of activity: in the air, on land, and at sea," he said.
Tomczyk said the EU’s planned "drone wall" could later "complement" Poland’s own system.
"If there’re any external tools, we will use them to the fullest," he added.
In September, NATO deployed fighter jets to intercept about 20 drones that crossed into Polish airspace during a major Russian attack on Ukraine, the first such response since Moscow's 2022 full-scale invasion.
(ał/gs)
Source: PAP, Bloomberg