Poland’s Ministry of Defense has confirmed plans to introduce the WLKM 12.7 mm Gatling gun, a domestically developed weapon designed to strengthen the country’s short-range air defense and counter-drone capabilities.
The deputy head of the Polish Ministry of National Defense, Cezary Tomczyk, said in a post on X that the WLKM will be included in the equipment of the armed forces, where it “will be able to shoot at Russian aerial intruders.”
Produced by Zakłady Mechaniczne Tarnów (ZM Tarnów), the WLKM is a four-barrel rotary gun chambered in 12.7×99 mm NATO caliber. It is reported to achieve rates of fire of up to 3,600 rounds per minute, offering the saturation firepower needed to counter small drones or low-flying aircraft.
The weapon is designed for integration into remote-controlled weapon stations, making it suitable for mounting on vehicles, naval platforms, or fixed defensive installations.
The WLKM was initially developed as a large-caliber machine gun intended for antipersonnel use. However, the developers later shifted their focus to combating drones due to the system’s high fire density.
Role in Poland’s defense
The unveiling comes in the wake of a major Russian drone incursion into Polish airspace on the night of September 9 to 10, 2025, which prompted a quick-reaction air response. Polish officials later said a Polish F-16-launched missile likely struck a house in the village of Wyryki during the operation, an incident now under investigation.
The episode underscored both the operational risks and the cost asymmetry of engaging inexpensive one-way attack drones with high-end air-to-air missiles. AIM-120 AMRAAMs can cost over $1 million per round depending on variant, while Russian Shahed-type drones are typically priced in the tens of thousands to low six figures per unit, according to open-source estimates.
The WLKM system is expected to complement Poland’s layered air defense network, which already includes Patriot PAC-3 missile systems, and the Pilica+, another short-range system produced by ZM Tarnów that combines 23 mm guns and a missile system. The system would provide a close-in defense option, capable of rapidly engaging unmanned aerial vehicles and other low-altitude targets.
By relying on a domestic design, Warsaw also reinforces its policy of strengthening Poland’s defense industrial base while reducing reliance on foreign suppliers.
The Polish Ministry of Defense has not disclosed the value of any contract or the timeline for production. It has also not detailed which military units will be the first to receive the system or the scale of the planned acquisition.
If the system proves to be effective in service, it could lead to export opportunities. Other NATO members, including nearby Lithuania, which has also experienced multiple incursions by Russian drones, are looking for cost-effective counter-UAS solutions.
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