Poland considers converting M28 Skytruck cargo plane into drone hunter gunship
March 27, 2026
Poland is considering following Ukraine’s lead and converting its M28 light utility aircraft to shoot down masses of drones. This is considered a cost-effective solution and one that can be implemented quickly.
Poland wants to turn M28 Skytrucks into drone hunters
According to the Polish news outlet Defence24, the Polish military is considering acquiring aircraft to serve as drone hunters.
Reports suggest the General Command of the Armed Forces is analysing the potential introduction of such capabilities, which could help reduce the burden on conventional combat aircraft in countering the widespread use of unmanned aerial vehicles.
One of the aircraft types being considered is the PZL M28 Skytruck, which is a family of light utility aircraft with STOL capability. Early models were license-built by Poland based on the Antonov An-28.
Ukraine has had enormous success in shooting down Russian Shahed-style drones with the An-28, the M28’s relative.
The easiest way to modify the M28 is to mount 7.62 mm M134 multi-barrel machine guns on its side doors, although it is also possible to mount a 12.7 mm heavy machine gun in the rear of the hull.
Ukrainian PZL M28 Skytruck with an impressive record of shooting down Russian drones pic.twitter.com/eK1vmUtpkT
— Preston Stewart (@prestonstew_) February 20, 2026
APKWS or Telson laser-guided rocket launchers could be mounted under the wings. Alternatively, 20 mm cannons could be fitted to the landing gear nacelles for direct fire, alongside additional sensors and systems required for drone detection and tracking.
Poland’s fast jets are not optimized for the role
The Polish discussion is about what has been known for years now. Traditional air defences are insufficient to counter masses of cheap drones, and other more cost-effective systems are needed.
Poland is divesting of its aging MiG-29s and replacing them with South Korean KA-50 Eagle light attack aircraft. It also has a fleet of 47 F-16s and is gearing up to receive its first F-35s.
These fighter jets can counter drones, but it is an inefficient task for them. Shooting down small and cheap drones with an F-35 firing bespoke air-to-air missiles is like swatting a mosquito with a sledgehammer.
Defence24 points out “Aircraft of this class are designed primarily to combat other manned enemy aircraft and cruise missiles, to penetrate air defenses, and to conduct precision strikes.”
A Ukrainian civilian An-28 aircraft, modified for the role of a “Shahed hunter,” now bears a staggering 114 confirmed kills marked on its fuselage. https://t.co/AxeHdG9gtd pic.twitter.com/HWaM20cOgW
— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) February 4, 2026
The M28 is not the only aircraft type being considered by Poland. For its part, Ukraine is also using Yak-52 trainers and helicopters; additionally, it is asking for Czech L-159 light fighters to be used as drone hunters.
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A layered air defence system
Poland is considering how to develop an effective ‘layered’ air defence system, because a system lacking the appropriate layers can easily be overcome.
For example, Patriot SAMs optimized for high-end threats like ballistic missiles and fighter jets can be overwhelmed by masses of low-end drones. But a system made up of cheap interceptor drones is ineffective at stopping ballistic missiles.
Poland is looking at how to combine its traditional missile systems with non-expensive countermeasures like interceptor drones, barrel artillery, low-cost missiles, and retrofitted manned and unmanned drone hunter aircraft (like the M28).
The M28 has another benefit for Poland. Poland has a nascent miltiary industry, meaning it has to import almost all of its high-end modern equipment. However, the M28 is produced by Poland’s PZL Mielec (owned by Lockheed Martin) and remains in production, with over 100 delivered.
Poland even exports the M28. For example, in 2025, Defense Express reported Germany ordered two more M28s to join its existing fleet of four. These are used by German forces for special operations.
Featured Image: Wikimedia Commons
