PZL Defence: A New Play in the Drone Wars
On July 21, 2025 the wheels of PZL Defence began to turn – no, not literally, it’s still in the groove of the official registration process. But that hasn’t stopped the big players from already gearing up to fire it into the sky.
Unimot & PZL – A Power‑Up Deal
Last Thursday, Unimot inked a letter of intent with PZL Sędziszów and the nascent PZL Defence. The aim? To build a strategic partnership that blends cutting‑edge Polish engineering with the battle‑tested know‑how of Ukrainian folks.
Under the agreement, once PZL Defence gets its stamp from the National Court Register, Unimot will grab 40% of the shares for PLN 400,000. The rest of the pie will be sliced like this:
- 10% – PZL Sędziszów
- 50% – Our Ukrainian partner
After the paperwork is done and the regulators give the green light, PZL Defence will roll out its first civilian drones. With the proper licences, it will then jump into the military arena, delivering drones (both for reconnaissance and loitering munitions) and sneaky anti‑drone systems that stop aerial threats before they even know you’re there.
Why Drones Matter Now
Adam Sikorski, the CEO of Unimot, sums it up: “Unmanned tech is becoming a key pillar of regional security. By combining Polish precision with Ukrainian real‑world experience, we’re creating a shield that’s ready for 2025 and beyond.”
Meanwhile, PZL Sędziszów brings seasoned expertise to the table – it’s a 85‑year‑old aviation factory that currently turns out filters for Rosomak military trucks and parts for Leonardo’s helicopters. It also opens a brand‑new production hall, tech labs, and a full suite of services ready for defence‑grade projects.
The new company’s R&D centre will focus on:
- Reconnaissance drones
- Loitering munitions
- Systems that neutralise stray UAVs
It’s a move that acknowledges the battlefield’s rapid evolution. Since 2022, Russia has deployed more than 28,000 Shahed drones over Ukraine – a number that may shoot up to 500 drones each night according to Ukrainian intel. The result? Anti‑drone tech has become both an offense and a defense essential.
The Bigger Picture
Poland’s defence budget is a massive PLN 186.6 billion in 2025, hitting around 4.7% of the projected GDP. The trend is steadily climbing: projections for 2025‑2035 see defence spending ballooning to over PLN 1.9 trillion.
These moves dovetail nicely with European Union initiatives like Readiness 2030 and the SAFE mechanism, which together aim to funnel almost EUR 800 billion into European defence innovation. That includes access to financial resources, EIB instruments, and a flexible budgetary framework – a perfect recipe for success.
Bottom Line
With PZL Defence on the launch pad, Unimot aiming to hold half the share, and a Ukrainian partner bringing real‑combat familiarity, this trio is poised to redefine aerial defence. The countdown is already on, and the world’s eye is on how these drones will change the skies.
