Boryszew, a Polish industrial group, has launched a production line for the Hornet drone in Sochaczew, developed with the Air Force Institute of Technology. The drone, nicknamed the “Polish Shahed,” is already attracting interest, with the first inquiries arriving within an hour of the announcement.
The Hornet is a delta-wing, combustion-engine unmanned aerial vehicle with a length of 2.6 meters and a wingspan of 2.2 meters. Weighing 85 kilograms, it can reach speeds of over 200 km/h and has an operational range of 400 kilometers in its basic version, extending to 900–1,200 kilometers depending on configuration. In the one-way attack variant, it can carry a warhead of approximately 16–20 kilograms.
The project is based on an agreement signed on October 17, 2025, between Boryszew and the Air Force Institute of Technology. Boryszew finances research and development, covers the cost of a trial batch, and leases industrial land to the special-purpose vehicle Hornet – Polskie Drony. The company is now awaiting a concession before starting full-scale serial production, which is expected to follow successful testing.
Production capacity and strategic shift
Wojciech Kowalczyk, CEO of Boryszew, stated that the group is leveraging its unique competencies in metals and chemicals for defense production. – Strengthening defense is a priority for the world’s largest economies for at least the next ten years. It is hard not to shift a group with so many related competences toward this type of production – he said. Kowalczyk announced that the company is ready to produce up to a thousand drones annually, a goal set earlier this year.
Deputy Defense Minister Cezary Tomczyk emphasized that all intellectual property rights to the Hornet belong to the Ministry of National Defense, as the drone was developed by the Air Force Institute of Technology. Most components are sourced from Poland, with the remainder from other EU countries. Kowalczyk added that the goal is to eventually source all parts domestically.
Military testing and future orders
The Polish Armed Forces plan to conduct tests on an extended-range version of the Hornet before making procurement decisions. Tomczyk noted that changes in procurement regulations now allow soldiers to test solutions and decide which systems to adopt. – It is not about having tens of thousands of drones, but about the ability to produce tens of thousands in a short time – he said. He also highlighted a dramatic increase in spending on drones and anti-drone systems, from 100 million zlotys in December 2023 to 26 billion zlotys currently.
Tomczyk added that Poland is entering a new phase of building capabilities, including the establishment of drone laboratories in military units. Initially operating in 10 selected units, the plan is to expand to 20 units in the coming months. Soldiers will receive training, technology, and 3D printers to manufacture lightweight drones near the front line.
The Hornet has already garnered international interest. – The first inquiries about our drones came within an hour of announcing the press conference – Kowalczyk said. Although the initial orders may not come from Poland, the company is prepared to ramp up production once the required concession is obtained.
Źródło: WNP.PL, Fot. PAP (Paweł Supernak)
