According to the European Commission, Poland will receive €43.7 billion in defense funding under the SAFE loan program—making it the largest beneficiary of the EU fund, which totals €150 billion. The funds will be used to strengthen air and missile defense, drone and anti-drone systems, and military mobility. Representatives of Poland’s defense industry see the program as a major opportunity for domestic companies and a potential gateway to greater expansion within the EU.
“The SAFE program, designed to channel European financing into the development of the European defense industry, is a huge opportunity for Poland. These are, in large part, the funds of Polish taxpayers being returned to us through Brussels. The program offers credit instruments to support the defense industry as a strategic sector for Europe’s security,” said Zbigniew Pisarski, President of the Kazimierz Pułaski Foundation. “Poland is the guardian of Europe’s eastern flank, and our defense industry must become a source of national and European autonomy.”
SAFE: €150 Billion for European Defense
The SAFE (Support to Armed Forces in Europe) program was adopted by the EU Council in late May. It provides €150 billion in long-term, low-interest loans to finance urgent and wide-ranging initiatives supporting the European defense industry.
“SAFE is directed at EU member states, meaning that companies do not apply directly to the European Commission. Instead, governments take out loans to finance defense purchases. Consequently, companies offering products that fit within the categories defined by the SAFE regulation—such as unmanned systems or anti-drone technologies—will be able to compete for contracts funded by SAFE,” explained Małgorzata Darowska, European Affairs Coordinator at WB Electronics.
On September 9, the European Commission announced the fund’s allocation. Poland will receive the largest share—just over €43.7 billion. The second-largest beneficiary is Romania (€16.7 billion), followed by France and Hungary (€16.2 billion each). Projects financed under SAFE must involve joint procurement between at least one EU member state and other partners such as Ukraine or EEA-EFTA countries.
“We can fully benefit from this only if we cooperate with international partners. It’s crucial for the Polish government to support both state-owned and private companies by providing financial and legal frameworks that enable them to compete with Western European players, who have greater experience in international cooperation. This is a major opportunity for us,” said Pisarski.
He emphasized that state incentives and support for building international partnerships will be key to maximizing Poland’s gains.
“Without such support, Polish firms will be overtaken by foreign competitors backed by their governments. That’s why it’s essential for ministries—particularly the Ministry of State Assets and the Ministry of Development—to actively help Polish companies build consortia, for instance through project financing guarantees, purchase guarantees, or procurement of prototypes for national industry needs,” added Pisarski.
Polish Defense Spending and Industrial Potential
“Polish companies can benefit significantly from the SAFE program, especially if we engage in joint procurement initiatives,” said Darowska.
According to the Ministry of National Defense (MON), Poland’s 2025 defense budget amounts to 4.7% of GDP (PLN 186.6 billion) and is expected to rise to PLN 200 billion in 2026 (4.8% of GDP). A report by PKO BP’s Centre for Analysis, titled “Macro Focus: Military Spending – Security and Growth”, estimates that Poland will allocate over PLN 640 billion for military equipment by 2035. The key challenge will be ensuring that as much of this spending as possible flows into the Polish defense sector.
According to Deloitte’s “Poland’s Defense Investments” report, between 2024 and 2035, approximately 40% of defense purchases will be made domestically, while the remaining 60% will come from imports.
“Polish firms often lose out because they’re asked whether the Polish army already uses domestic technologies. If our solutions aren’t even included in pilot projects, we lose credibility from the start. We can afford to support Polish innovation—but it must be done systematically,” Pisarski stressed.
SAFE Funds: Strategic Priorities and Industrial Growth
The Ministry of Defense stated that the SAFE funds will be directed toward air and missile defense systems, artillery and ammunition, drones and anti-drone systems, as well as cybersecurity, infrastructure protection, and military mobility.
“The WB Group, whose product portfolio aligns perfectly with the priorities of the SAFE program, aims not only to supply the Polish Armed Forces but also to export to other EU member states under joint procurement schemes,” explained Darowska.
“This would benefit both the company and the national budget. The loans must, of course, be repaid, but if Polish firms expand through joint EU projects, they’ll pay more taxes in Poland, boosting our economy.”
WB Electronics: A Rising European Player
WB Electronics, a major Polish defense technology company, has long exported proprietary solutions and participated in EU and NATO projects. In 2024, exports accounted for half of the company’s PLN 1.5 billion in revenue, including deliveries of unmanned systems for Ukrainian forces. The group operates in dozens of foreign markets, including the United States, South America, North Africa, India, Vietnam, and Malaysia.
In The Defence Post’s 2025 global ranking of drone manufacturers, WB Electronics ranked 24th worldwide.
“We see the SAFE program as an opportunity to expand our presence in the European Union. Until now, the EU market has been relatively closed to cross-border expansion among member states. With SAFE and joint procurement mechanisms, we believe we can become a European champion in unmanned systems,” concluded Darowska.
Source: CEO.com.pl – Poland to Receive €43.7 Billion from EU SAFE Program for Defense
