Defence Innovation: New Models and Procurement Implications. The Polish Case

Poland’s strategic situation in Europe, as a centre of gravity for NATO in the Baltic region, and the growing threat posed by its Eastern Russian neighbour strongly influences its defence policy priorities and approach to defence innovation. Furthermore, Polish national defence technological and industrial base (DTIB) specific condition makes investments into advanced R&T/D programmes difficult as many highend technologies remains out of reach for indigenous defence businesses. Indeed, to acquire new capacities, Poland is more used to search for offsets and off-the-shelf acquisitions than R&T/D. Yet, Poland’s recent expenditure on defence R&T/D and the establishment of Armaments Agency (AA) in 2022 alongside the Polish ministry of national defence’s 2020 new innovation policy has enabled new results for Polish DTIB, including new weapon systems or innovative programmes. But the likelihood they will lead to significant European armament project is still to be proven, and innovation may remain to certain technology areas and market segments considering the Polish security environment’s accelerated deterioration…