This article is based on an official press release from RTX (Raytheon).

Poland Becomes First NATO Ally to Field Raytheon’s Advanced MS-110 Reconnaissance Pods

In a significant move to bolster the surveillance capabilities of NATO’s eastern flank, Raytheon, an RTX business, has secured a $197 million contract to supply the Polish Air-Forces with the MS-110 Multispectral Reconnaissance System. The deal, announced on January 28, 2026, marks Poland as the first NATO member nation to acquire this advanced intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) technology.

The contract, awarded through the U.S. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, covers the production and integration of seven MS-110 pods. According to the official announcement, work will be performed in Westford, Massachusetts, with an expected completion date of August 2031. This acquisition represents a major leap in Poland’s ability to monitor its borders and detect concealed threats, utilizing artificial intelligence to process imagery in near real-time.

By procuring this system, Poland joins a small group of global operators, becoming only the fourth customer worldwide to adopt the MS-110. The system is designed to provide high-fidelity, wide-area imagery across various weather conditions, a critical requirement for the diverse and often challenging environments of Central and Eastern Europe.

Next-Generation “Camouflage-Busting” Technology

The MS-110 is not merely a camera upgrade; it represents a generational shift in how aerial reconnaissance is conducted. Unlike legacy sensors that rely on visual or infrared bands, the MS-110 captures data across multiple bands of the electromagnetic spectrum. This multispectral capability allows the system to “see” through obscurants such as smoke, haze, and adverse weather, which often blind traditional sensors.

AI at the Tactical Edge

A key feature of the MS-110 is its integration of onboard artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) capabilities. According to Raytheon, the system processes imagery at the “tactical edge”, meaning the data is analyzed on the aircraft itself rather than requiring transmission to a ground station first. This allows for the rapid identification of targets and threats.

Dan Theisen, President of Advanced Products and Solutions at Raytheon, highlighted the strategic advantage of this technology in the company’s press statement:

“The MS-110 system brings advanced capability by pushing next-generation processing to the tactical edge to defeat camouflage and decoys in near real time. This capability empowers the U.S. and our allies to maintain a strategic advantage… by bolstering survivability, responsiveness and wide area surveillance.”

The ability to defeat camouflage and decoys is particularly relevant in modern hybrid warfare scenarios, where adversaries frequently use deception techniques to mask troop movements and equipment.

Strategic Context: Modernizing Poland’s Air Force

This acquisition is part of a broader, historic military buildup by Poland. As a frontline state bordering Russia and Belarus, Poland has consistently maintained high defense spending, exceeding 4% of its GDP in recent years. The MS-110 contract aligns with Poland’s ongoing efforts to modernize its air combat fleet to ensure interoperability with U.S. and NATO forces.

Integration with the F-16 Viper

While the MS-110 is compatible with various platforms, including the MQ-9 Reaper and F-15, industry analysts indicate these pods are intended for Poland’s F-16 fleet. This follows a major $3.8 billion agreement signed in August 2025 to modernize 48 of Poland’s F-16 C/D Block 52+ fighters to the advanced F-16V (Viper) standard.

The MS-110 serves as the successor to the DB-110 sensor currently used by many F-16 operators. By upgrading to the multispectral variant, the Polish Air Force ensures its modernized Vipers possess the sensor fidelity required to match their upgraded avionics and weapons systems.

AirPro News Analysis

From Imaging to Automated Intelligence

The significance of the MS-110 deal extends beyond the hardware itself. At AirPro News, we view this as a pivotal shift from passive imaging to active, automated intelligence gathering. In traditional reconnaissance, pilots or ground analysts must manually sift through hours of footage to find targets. The MS-110’s AI capabilities automate this process, flagging potential threats, such as camouflaged tanks or decoy missile sites, instantaneously.

For a nation like Poland, which monitors a long and geopolitically tense border, the ability to distinguish between a real threat and a decoy in seconds rather than hours is a force multiplier. It reduces the “sensor-to-shooter” loop, allowing commanders to make faster decisions based on verified data. Furthermore, being the first NATO ally to field this specific system places Poland at the forefront of the alliance’s ISR modernization efforts, likely setting a standard for other eastern flank nations to follow.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the value of the contract?
The contract awarded to Raytheon is valued at approximately $197 million USD.

When will the systems be delivered?
Work on the contract is expected to be completed by August 2031.

What makes the MS-110 different from previous cameras?
The MS-110 uses multispectral imaging to see through smoke and bad weather, and it employs onboard AI to automatically detect targets and identify decoys or camouflage.

Which aircraft will carry these pods?
While compatible with multiple platforms, they are primarily intended for Poland’s fleet of F-16 fighters, which are currently undergoing modernization to the Viper standard.

Sources: RTX Press Release