WARSAW — Polish defense technology company MESKO and Poland’s MND Armaments Agency have signed a framework agreement to supply thousands of Piorun missiles and launch systems for the international EDIRPA consortium.
EDIRPA, comprised of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Norway, is an EU program aimed at incentivizing cooperation in defense procurement between member states to jointly coordinate and acquire the most urgent and critical defense product needs, especially amid Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
“This contract is worth PLN 8 billion [over $2.16 billion], the largest contract in history for the purchase of Piorun MANPADS, both launch systems and missiles, which will be used by the Polish Armed Forces, the Armed Forces of the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, and the Kingdom of Norway,” said Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz during a ceremony announcing the deal. “This is the first agreement of this type where the consortium is formed not by a company, but by a state.”
Under the agreement, the four countries in EDIRPA will acquire Piorun MANPADS, along with simulators and training and logistics packages as part of the EU SAFE program. While the number of missiles and launchers has not been disclosed, the Polish Army will receive 80 percent of the equipment. Deliveries will continue through 2030.
“There’s probably no country in the European Union where, during discussions about the SAFE mechanism, I haven’t been asked about the possibility of purchasing Piorun missiles. The Piorun is our export hit. I can say that openly today, […] because this product is also used by the US Army,” said Magdalena Sobkowiak-Czarnecka, Secretary of State at the Poland’s MND today.
The Piorun is designed to destroy low-flying aircraft, airplanes, helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles. The Polish Armed Forces use it in the lowest tier of the VSHORAD air defense system used by EDIRPA countries.
The Piorun is an upgraded version of the Grom (also in service with the Polish Army), produced in Poland and based on the Soviet 9K38 Igla. The modernization includes a modified launch mechanism, a new, more sensitive homing head, and an optoelectronic sight mounted on a special rail. This has improved target acquisition capabilities, jamming resistance, and effective range, according to MESKO, which is part of the Polish Armaments Group (Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa).
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The changes also include the introduction of a proximity fuse (in addition to the existing impact fuse) and a directional warhead, which increases the effectiveness of engaging small targets such as unmanned aerial vehicles. Additionally, a user authorization system and night-time firing capability were introduced.
Prior to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Poland in 2022 supplied Ukraine with Piorun MANPADS. During the war, the Armed Forces of Ukraine claimed that a number of Russian aircraft (Su-34, Su-25) and helicopters (Mi-24, Ka-52) were shot down with Piorun missiles
Current users of Piorun MANPADS include Belgium, Estonia, Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Ukraine and the US.
France has also expressed interest in purchasing the Piorun air defense systems. During the Eurosatory exposition over the summer in Paris, Naval Group, Mesko and another Polish company Telesystem signed an agreement to demonstrate Piorun missile capacity onto Naval Group’s Rampart system during future naval exercises.
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