Poland Orders 18 Advanced STAR-X Radars to Strengthen Baltic Coast Surveillance

Poland has taken a major step toward strengthening its coastal defence and surveillance capabilities by signing a contract for 18 ELM-2238X STAR-X radars with a consortium that includes KenBIT and Israel’s Elta Systems. The deal, finalized on July 9, 2025, is valued at approximately PLN 430 million (around EUR 100 million) and is part of a broader plan to enhance national security along the Baltic coastline.

Under the agreement, radar deliveries will take place between 2027 and 2030, providing full radar coverage across the length of Poland’s coast. These cutting-edge systems will be deployed at both existing naval observation posts and newly built stations, which will be developed under separate contracts.

The ELM-2238X STAR-X is the latest model in the ELM-2238 radar series, originally created for use on corvettes and frigates. First introduced in 2022, this radar operates in the X-band, features a software-defined design, and includes a GaN-based AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) antenna, making it highly versatile and powerful.

With the capability to detect and track up to 1,000 targets simultaneously, the radar can monitor surface vessels, aircraft, low-flying helicopters, drones, anti-ship missiles, and cruise missiles. It boasts a detection range of up to 150 km for multi-role combat aircraft, offering Poland the ability to spot even low-observable threats in the air and at sea.

The Polish Ministry of National Defence highlighted that these radars will dramatically improve situational awareness in the southern Baltic Sea, helping to track and monitor naval activity and airborne threats more effectively. They will also complement existing early warning systems, including long- and medium-range radar stations and the Saab 340 AEW Erieye aircraft, creating a comprehensive layered surveillance network.

The adaptation of radar sites and construction of new facilities will be managed through additional procurement procedures, with the goal of fully integrating the new radars into Poland’s coastal defence infrastructure.

By acquiring the ELM-2238X STAR-X radars, Poland not only improves its national defence posture but also reinforces NATO’s collective capabilities in the strategically important Baltic region, at a time when security dynamics in Eastern Europe continue to demand advanced technological readiness.