On Tuesday, 27 January 2026, the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV, Försvarets materielverk) of the Swedish Ministry of Defence announced that the Polish Armaments Group had begun deliveries of the first Piorun man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS) in December 2025, just three months after the contract was signed. It was also announced that the Polish system has received the local Swedish military designation RBS 102 (Robotsystem 102).
Photo: Przemysław Gurgurewicz, MILMAG
“We handed the equipment over to the Armed Forces on the same day we received it. To the best of my knowledge, this is the first time we in the air-defense branch have done it this way,” said Johan Lind, project manager for man-portable air defense at Försvarets materielverk (FMV).
Försvarets materielverk (FMV) decided to test a faster method of transferring equipment to the Swedish Armed Forces. Before Christmas, a delegation of FMV and armed forces representatives traveled to the main facility of Mesko in Skarżysko-Kamienna, where a joint inspection of the delivered equipment was conducted. FMV then approved the delivery from the Polish Armaments Group and handed the equipment directly over to the Armed Forces, which subsequently transported it back to Sweden.
“A procurement and materiel handover in such a short time is probably only possible with a standard product and close cooperation with the Swedish Armed Forces,” said Johan Lind.
During a conference organized by the non-governmental organization Folk och Försvar in Sälen, the Director General of Försvarets materielverk (FMV), Mikael Granholm, said that the agency is moving from words to action when it comes to reducing national special requirements, such as opting for standard procurements of the RBS 102 (Piorun) system. He emphasized that it is a fully developed system, easy to operate and manage, and already in service with other countries.
“RBS 102 is a capable system that is already in service in other countries, and we have been in dialogue with them on certain issues. This has allowed us to do some things faster. Even though we have completed an initial materiel delivery, there is still a great deal of work remaining to fully bring the system into operational service,” said Johan Lind.
A prerequisite for successfully moving from contract award to the handover of military equipment within a single quarter is rapid decision-making pathways, as well as support and consensus across the entire organization.
“Although the procurement phase is both faster and simpler when purchasing standard products, there is still a culture of wanting uniquely Swedish solutions, which generates a certain level of resistance. Fast decision-making pathways are required, and it is not possible to carry out such a rapid materiel handover without consensus across the entire organization,” Johan added.
It should be recalled that on 9 September 2025, the opening day of the DSEI 2025 (Defence & Security Equipment International) trade fair held at the ExCeL Centre in London, a contract worth approximately 3 billion SEK was signed between Mesko, a subsidiary of the Polish Armaments Group (PGZ), and Försvarets materielverk (FMV) for the delivery of an undisclosed number of Piorun MANPADS.
Interest from the Swedish side in the Piorun system was first expressed in March 2025 through a Letter of Intent (LoI). In the following months, negotiations were conducted, leading to the placement of a preliminary order in June. The final contract was signed in September during the DSEI exhibition in London. Completion of deliveries is scheduled for 2027.
Interestingly, just before Christmas, Mesko carried out the first deliveries of Piorun systems to Belgium, which on 29 July 2025 approved the purchase of 40 launch units and 300 missiles for approximately 137 million EUR.
Piorun MANPADS
Piorun is Mesko’s flagship product and is in service with the Polish Armed Forces. The missile system has gained international recognition in the context of the war in Ukraine. Real-world battlefield use has positively validated the system’s key attributes, effectiveness, reliability, high build quality, and operational safety (The 3,000th Piorun Man-Portable Air-Defense System, manufactured by Mesko).
Today, Piorun strengthens the defensive potential not only of Poland’s armed forces, but also of countries such as the United States, Norway, Estonia, Latvia, Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia. Slovakia is also expected to sign a procurement contract in the near future. According to media reports, Piorun is to become part of the Israeli SPYDER system ordered by Romania in July last year. Armed forces from around the world have also expressed interest in Mesko’s MANPADS, including France and a Balkan state, and the system has been showcased in Thailand.
The Piorun man-portable air-defense system is intended to counter low-flying aerial targets such as aircraft, helicopters, and drones. Within the Polish Armed Forces, it is employed at the lowest layer of the air-defense system, providing very short-range air defense (VSHORAD) at short distances and low altitudes.
Piorun is a modernized version of the Grom MANPADS, which also remains in service with the Polish military. The modernization included a modified launch mechanism, a new higher-sensitivity seeker, and an electro-optical sight mounted on a dedicated rail. As a result, target acquisition capability, resistance to countermeasures, and engagement range were increased to 5,500–6,500 meters, at altitudes from 10 to 4,000 meters.
Further enhancements included the introduction of a proximity fuze (in addition to the existing impact fuze) and a directional warhead, significantly improving effectiveness against small targets such as unmanned aerial vehicles. Additional features include a user authorization system and the ability to conduct engagements at night.
⚡ PIORUNem do Szwecji 😎
🇵🇱🤝🇸🇪 Pierwsze elementy systemu #PIORUN dostarczone Szwecji! To wynik umowy zawartej między @PGZ_MESKO_SA, spółką wchodzącą w skład Grupy @PGZ_pl, a Szwedzką Agencją Zamówień Obronnych podpisanej we wrześniu 2025 r. Jeszcze w grudniu tego samego roku… pic.twitter.com/T0dy5jwwPq
— Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa🇵🇱 (@PGZ_pl) January 28, 2026
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