Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Norway will buy thousands of Piorun air defense systems under a more than $2.2-billion agreement.
Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Norway will buy thousands of Piorun air defense systems under a more than 8-billion Polish złoty ($2.2-billion) agreement signed through a European consortium.
The contract will be carried out by Poland's Armament Agency and Mesko, part of the Polish Armaments Group, with deliveries scheduled through 2030.
More than 80 percent of the ordered missiles and launch systems will go to the Polish Armed Forces, with those purchases financed through the European Union's Security Action for Europe program. The remaining systems will go to Lithuania, Latvia, and Norway.
The agreement comes as Mesko expands production to meet rising demand. Its annual Piorun output has increased from about 300 missiles several years ago to around 1,500, with the company targeting more than 2,000 missiles a year.
PGZ President Adam Leszkiewicz, meanwhile, said that the deal “strengthens the security of the Polish Armed Forces and allied armies, while also building a strong position for Polish industry in the European defense market.”
Poland’s Piorun
The Piorun is a man-portable air defense system developed to engage aircraft, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles, and cruise missiles.
It uses an infrared homing seeker and proximity fuse, while its design includes measures intended to improve resistance to electronic countermeasures.
The system weighs 19.5 kilograms (43 pounds) and can engage targets up to 6,500 meters (21,325 feet) away and at altitudes of 4,000 meters (13,123 feet).
Its growing adoption by NATO and European countries has made it one of Poland's most prominent defense exports as countries expand short-range air defense capabilities.
