In March 2026 it became known Poland plans to reequip its M28 patrol aircraft for role of combating russian Shaheds and other UAVs. Model for this was Ukrainian An-28 (or M28, under other assumptions), adapted including for employing anti-aircraft drones.
Now data exists that already by end of current year Poles will have first M28 for combating russian Shaheds. However in specific project parameters many unknown details remain.
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As Polish portal Defence24 writes, Polish Deputy Defense Minister Paweł Bejda during Sejm speech stated M28 modification procedure for UAV combat is completed, contractor will be PZL Mielec (M28 manufacturer itself), while project will be financed under Polish Armed Forces Technical Modernization Plan.
Official said specific parameters, specifically weapons suite and aircraft quantity, will not be disclosed for security reasons. But from his words directly followed that discussion so far involves one aircraft, decision on upgrading other M28s will be made based on first aircraft testing results.
M28 onboard equipment in Shahed-killer variant will include inertial navigation system, positioning system installation based on electro-optical stations with laser altimeter, and CRPA antenna integration resistant to EW jamming.
Defense Express draws attention to following points. On one hand Poles not only considered Armed Forces experience using An-28 as effective Shahed countermeasure but also considered detail that such flying drone-killer will have to operate under conditions of active own EW asset operation, setting corresponding navigation equipment requirements.
At same time, actual work duration may surprise here, where minimum half year was spent reequipping only one experimental M28 sample in UAV countermeasure variant. This may mean scaling such solution with patrol interceptor aircraft for Shaheds may take up to 1 year or even longer.
Especially since base M28 Shahed-killer parameters provided for several possible variants:
Basic — simply copy Ukrainian solution, meaning equip M28 with two M134 Miniguns with laser sights and place these machine guns in aircraft doors. As noted, Ukraine's experience shows successful application of aircraft with such weapons configuration.
Advanced — besides two Miniguns, also provides for installing electro-optical station in aircraft nose (similar to M28 in Polish Navy aviation service) and remotely controlled turret with 12.7mm machine gun enabling engaging targets at full 360 degrees. Underwing hardpoint installation for APKWS or FZ275 rocket pods is provided, and on landing gear nacelles — 20mm gun pods for forward firing.
Most advanced variant — besides described weapons suite provides for installing onboard radar on M28, so aircraft in Shahed-killer variant could independently detect aerial targets. Also — Link 16 integration, satellite communications, V/UHF protected communications radios, M5 friend-or-foe identification system and jam-resistant INS/GPS navigation system.
Meaning question also arises about at what complexity level Poland will be ready to implement its M28 Shahed-killer project, considering work duration parameter.
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