"the purchase would involve the 'best Polish equipment,' including the Warmate loitering munition, the FlyeEye mini-drones, and the Gladius strike and reconnaissance drones," Władysław Kosiniak‑Kamysz said after signing a new Letter of Intent with Canada.
Canada‑Poland Letter of Intent on defense industrial cooperation
The Canadian National Defense Minister, David J. McGuinty, and his Polish counterpart, Władysław Kosiniak‑Kamysz, signed a Letter of Intent in Ottawa that outlines strengthened bilateral defense industrial cooperation. The Canadian Department of National Defense said Minister McGuinty "highlighted opportunities to strengthen bilateral defense industrial cooperation, including collaboration under SAFE, potential joint projects involving emerging technologies, and talks on the establishment of ammunition production capacity in Canada."
Poland's state‑owned news agency, Polska Agencja Prasowa, reported the document as the first of its kind between the two countries and said it further outlines Ottawa’s planned procurement of Polish‑made drones.
EU SAFE financing and Canada's unique entry
The agreement will leverage the European Union’s Security Action for Europe (SAFE) initiative to fund joint projects. In December, Canada became the only non‑European country to gain entry into the €150 billion SAFE defense borrowing and procurement scheme, positioning Ottawa to use that financing mechanism for cooperative work with Warsaw.
Planned procurement: Warmate, FlyeEye, and Gladius from WB Group
According to Polska Agencja Prasowa and comments by Kosiniak‑Kamysz, the planned Polish equipment includes the Warmate loitering munition, the FlyeEye mini‑drones, and the Gladius strike and reconnaissance drones — all identified in the source as manufactured by the Polish company WB Group. The Letter of Intent is described as further outlining Ottawa’s planned procurement of these Polish‑made systems, though the document is presented as preliminary.
Canada's Defence Industrial Strategy and the $900 million drone hub
Canada’s move to procure Polish drones sits alongside domestic industrial planning. In March, Ottawa rolled out a $900 million investment plan under its new Defence Industrial Strategy, in part to create a new drone innovation hub. The strategy is based on a "build, partner, buy" model that seeks to manufacture military equipment locally, signaling an intent to combine domestic production with international partnerships.
Ammunition production capacity and IMT Precision
The Letter of Intent also includes talks on establishing ammunition production capacity in Canada, but the source reports no further details about how that capacity would be set up — specifically whether it would be a joint venture with Polish companies or a licensed arrangement. Separately, over the winter Canada announced a $1.4 billion plan to expand its domestic ammunition production capacity, including over $300 million to build new manufacturing facilities for 155mm artillery shells in partnership with Ontario‑based company IMT Precision.
What this means for Canadian procurement, WB Group, and domestic manufacturers
- Canadian procurement leaders: Ottawa has opened a parallel track — using SAFE financing and a Letter of Intent — to combine external sourcing of Polish systems with domestic industrial aims under its $900 million drone hub and broader Defence Industrial Strategy.
- WB Group and Polish defense industry: The company is named as the manufacturer of the three systems identified in the agreement, placing it explicitly in Ottawa’s procurement plans as reported by Polska Agencja Prasowa.
- Domestic manufacturers and IMT Precision: Canada’s announced $1.4 billion ammunition expansion, and the $300+ million commitment for 155mm shell facilities with IMT Precision, situates Canadian firms at the center of planned capacity growth, even as the precise structure of any new ammunition production tied to Poland remains unspecified.
The Letter of Intent establishes a framework: Canada will tap SAFE financing as part of deeper ties with Poland, Ottawa has signaled concrete interest in Polish unmanned systems produced by WB Group, and it is pursuing parallel domestic investments in drones and ammunition. The document is preliminary and leaves key operational details — including the structure of any ammunition production partnership and the specific procurement terms for the drones — unresolved, setting the stage for follow‑on negotiations and implementation steps.
