Poland plans to spend around 450 million zlotys ($120 million) on building a high-tech electronic surveillance barrier along its border with Ukraine, Polish media reported.
The system, to be installed on a section overseen by the Nadbużański Border Guard unit, is designed to boost national security and prevent illegal crossings. A contractor has not yet been selected.
The project will include underground seismic sensors, fiber-optic cables for data transmission, and power lines, along with surveillance towers equipped with day and thermal imaging cameras for round-the-clock monitoring.
All data will be transmitted in real time to a border guard command center, allowing rapid response to any incidents.
Funding remains uncertain. Authorities expect the project to be financed through several sources, including the EU’s SAFE defense investment program.
However, political hurdles, including a presidential veto, have complicated its implementation, and talks are ongoing to secure financing.
No start date has been set, and officials say construction will depend on both contractor selection and available funding. The tender includes a clause allowing cancellation if financing falls through.
The project comes as Poland cites rising security risks along its eastern border amid Russia’s war against Ukraine, warning of a “dynamic” situation involving criminal networks and sabotage threats.
The barrier is intended to improve detection capabilities and strengthen border security against both illegal migration and broader hybrid threats.
Separately, Poland is advancing its military space program, preparing to launch its second MikroSAR satellite on Monday as part of the POLSARIS radar reconnaissance constellation.
By 2027, Warsaw plans to deploy 12 radar satellites, aiming to build one of Europe’s largest military surveillance systems in orbit.