A radar system, electro-optical sensors and a 12.7-mm four-barrel machine gun capable of firing 3,600 rounds per minute – this is the Monster of Tarnów (Potwór z Tarnowa), which will become part of the shield built as part of the San program.

The Monster of Tarnów was designed to operate in automatic mode. The system will independently detect and identify a drone, track it, and eventually prompt the operator to pull the trigger at the right moment.

On the night of September 9/10, 2025, more than a dozen Russian drones violated Polish airspace. The military scrambled fighter jets: Polish F-16s and Dutch F-35s, stationed at the time on the eastern flank as part of a NATO mission. The pilots shot down some of the drones. It quickly turned out that they were unarmed, and the Russians most likely launched them to test the air defense of a potential adversary. Nevertheless, Poland got a small taste of what Ukraine faces every day. It was then that the issue of fighting such threats became particularly pressing. How can we do it effectively, quickly, and at the same time inexpensively? One of the answers is the Monster of Tarnów.

SAFE to the Rescue

The Monster of Tarnów is a modern anti-drone system designed and built at Tarnów Mechanical Works (ZMT, Zakłady Mechaniczne Tarnów). Its heart is a radar capable of detecting an approaching object from a distance of 15 km, along with optical systems that monitor the intruder. It is armed with a WLKM 12.7-mm four-barrel machine gun, which has an exceptionally high rate of fire – 3,600 rounds per minute – and can engage targets at a range of up to 2.2 km.

The system was designed to operate in automatic mode. It will independently detect and identify a drone, track it, and eventually prompt the operator to pull the trigger at the right moment. However, the final decision will always rest with the soldier. Another advantage of the design is its compact size. The system weighs about 1,100 kg and can be mounted on ships, various types of vehicles, as well as stationary platforms.

In 2025, the Monster of Tarnów underwent tests at the military training ground in Ustka. The system was praised by, among others, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz. During his March visit in Tarnów, he announced that mass production should begin “in the upcoming weeks.” This will be possible partly thanks to funds from the European Union. Tarnów Mechanical Works was included on the list of beneficiaries of the EU’s SAFE (Security Action for Europe) loan program. According to the announcement, the company will receive funding in the amount of 1–1.5 billion euros. Moreover, the company also received money directly from the government to help develop further defense projects. In December 2025, it was granted 310 million zlotys to expand its infrastructure and production capacity. The quick and efficient production of the Monster of Tarnów is of considerable importance to the Polish Armed Forces, especially since it is a piece of a larger puzzle.

Under a Mobile Shield

The system is an integral part of the Polish anti-drone shield, currently being developed under the San program, which entered its decisive phase in early 2026. At that time, the Armaments Agency signed a contract for the delivery of 18 modules designed to help protect the country’s eastern border, among other areas. The order, worth approximately 15 billion zlotys net, will be carried out by the Polish Armaments Group (PGZ, Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa) together with its technology partner – Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace from Norway. What exactly does the contract include?

Each module will consist of three fire platoons and one command platoon. The soldiers serving in them will be able to independently detect, identify, and destroy targets. Modern radars and optoelectronic systems will assist in tracking drones, while extensive armament will help to destroy them. The list of weapons naturally includes the Monster of Tarnów, mounted on a Legwan 4x4 vehicle, but not only that. San also features 30- and 35-mm cannons, as well as the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) consisting of launchers for 70-mm rockets equipped with a laser guidance module. In addition, there are kamikaze drones and electronic warfare devices designed to jam enemy UAVs.

Data collected by sensors will be transmitted and analyzed by the unified SanView command and control system. With the support of artificial intelligence, soldiers will quickly receive information about the type of object they are dealing with, along with its speed and flight path. The data will help them decide which weapons to use.

San also features 30- i 35-mm cannons.

The modules will be fully mobile, capable of rapid relocation, and at the same time difficult to detect. The Polish defense industry plays a significant role in the production of individual system components. In total, it is responsible for supplying 60% of the elements of each module.

The first combat modules of the San system are expected to be delivered to the army in the upcoming months. They will become a key element of the East Shield – a security system designed to protect the border of Poland, as well as that of NATO and the European Union, against a potential invasion by Russia and Belarus. Deliveries are scheduled to be completed in 2027. The government also hopes that the system will attract foreign buyers.

Landscape with San

The San system is part of a much more extensive initiative. Poland is gradually building a multi-layered air defense system. The top tier consists of Patriot missile launchers, purchased as part of the Wisła program. They are capable of engaging enemy aircraft or missiles at a range of approximately 100 km. Below that are the CAMM launchers and missiles acquired under the Narew program, with a range of 25 km. The third tier is the Pilica+ program, based on very short-range systems (such as the Piorun launchers capable of engaging targets at 6.5 km), which is also integrated with CAMM missiles. San is the fourth tier, with the Monster of Tarnów serving as the last line of defense.

The implementation of such projects is of fundamental importance to the Polish army. It constitutes a direct response to observations coming from the Ukrainian front. The modern battlefield is changing rapidly. The role of air strikes, especially those carried out by drones, is growing. This fact cannot be ignored by any country that wants to ensure its own security.