Poland Arms Forces With WLKM Rotary Gun as Russian Drone Threats Grow at Border.

Poland will deploy its locally-made WLKM rotary machine gun to bolster counter-drone defenses, addressing Russian aerial threats near NATO borders.

Poland’s Ministry of National Defense confirmed that the domestically developed WLKM rotary machine gun will enter service with the Polish Armed Forces. Deputy Defense Minister [Name] announced the decision on X, framing it as a step to strengthen Poland’s short-range drone defenses amid rising Russian aerial activity near NATO territory.
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Polish WLKM 12.7×99 mm four-barrel rotary machine gun mounted on a remote weapon station during live-fire testing. The high-rate-of-fire system is being integrated into the Polish Armed Forces to counter Russian low-altitude drone threats along the Polish border.  (Picture source: Army Recognition Group)

The WLKM, developed by Zakłady Mechaniczne Tarnów (ZM Tarnów), represents a new generation of high-rate-of-fire weaponry specifically designed to address the evolving threat of unmanned aerial systems. Configured as a four-barrel Gatling-type gun chambered in NATO-standard 12.7×99 mm (.50 BMG), the WLKM is capable of reaching a sustained firing rate of up to 3,600 rounds per minute. This places it in a rare category of lightweight, ultra-high-volume systems well-suited for countering drone swarms and low-flying aircraft with overwhelming kinetic force.

While visually reminiscent of legacy Western systems like the U.S. M134 Minigun, the WLKM features a modernized design adapted for current battlefield requirements. The weapon can be integrated into a variety of platforms, stationary defense emplacements, remote-controlled turrets, or mobile ground vehicles, and is expected to play a crucial role in Poland’s multi-layered counter-UAS architecture, especially in forward areas near the borders with Belarus and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad.

Operational data from manufacturer trials indicates that the WLKM is effective against aerial targets at distances of up to 2,000 meters, with a maximum vertical engagement altitude of approximately 1,500 meters. These performance parameters make it particularly effective against Class I and Class II UAVs, including commercial quadcopters, fixed-wing reconnaissance drones, and loitering munitions operating at low to medium altitudes. The weapon's combat envelope allows for rapid target engagement within the critical airspace perimeter around military installations, forward bases, and key infrastructure sites.

Industry sources close to the program indicate that the WLKM has undergone successful live-fire trials against maneuvering aerial targets at tactical engagement ranges. Its performance, particularly in defeating small-class drones with minimal time-on-target, has reportedly validated its effectiveness under battlefield conditions. ZM Tarnów has emphasized the system’s reliability, low maintenance footprint, and full compatibility with NATO logistics chains, giving it a unique appeal both domestically and in potential export markets.

Polish defense planners have prioritized kinetic C-UAS solutions as part of a broader modernization strategy that includes the integration of HIMARS rocket artillery, M1A2 Abrams tanks, K2 Black Panther MBTs, and F-35 multirole fighters. The WLKM fits into this structure as a cost-effective, scalable option for frontline units requiring immediate response against low-cost threats that often bypass traditional radar-guided air defense systems.

Strategically, the decision to induct the WLKM into active service underscores Poland’s growing emphasis on autonomous deterrence capabilities within the NATO alliance. “This is more than a tactical asset, it’s a message,” said Colonel Marek Stasik, a former Polish Army artillery commander and defense consultant. “Poland is demonstrating that it can rapidly field indigenous solutions to emerging threats without waiting for external suppliers or layered bureaucracy.”

Russian drone activity near Polish airspace has intensified in the past year, with multiple incidents involving unidentified UAVs crossing into NATO territory, some believed to be conducting reconnaissance or probing air defense responses. The WLKM’s rapid-firing ability, paired with electro-optical sighting systems and possible integration into automated detection networks, is intended to give Polish units a decisive edge in intercepting such threats before they can gather intelligence or cause disruption.

In operational terms, the WLKM fills a critical gap between small arms fire and higher-end missile-based air defense. It also supports a layered doctrine in which kinetic and electronic measures work in tandem, a necessity given the complexity of drone warfare as observed in Ukraine and other conflict zones. Defense experts note that with saturation drone tactics becoming increasingly common, NATO allies are watching Poland’s WLKM deployment closely as a potential model for their own force protection measures.

With production lines already in place at ZM Tarnów and training modules reportedly under development, the WLKM is expected to be fielded across select Polish Army and territorial defense units in the coming months. While the Defense Ministry has not disclosed the total number of systems to be procured, internal procurement planning suggests that the initial deployment will prioritize airbase protection, ammunition depots, and key logistic corridors in eastern Poland.

As Poland continues to transform its military posture from a post-Cold War defense model to a fully modernized, NATO-integrated force structure, the WLKM stands out not only for its firepower but for its symbolism. It reflects a national defense-industrial sector capable of delivering frontline-ready systems at speed, tailored to the asymmetric challenges of 21st-century warfare.

Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.