On August 24 this year, a framework agreement was signed at Mesko S.A. in Skarżysko-Kamienna for the delivery of several thousand Piorun MANPADS. The agreement was concluded between the State Treasury – Armament Agency and Mesko S.A. The parties were represented by Maj. Gen. Artur Kuptel, Head of the Armament Agency; Renata Gruszczyńska, President of the Management Board of Mesko S.A.; and Marcin Ożóg, Member of the Management Board of Mesko S.A. The ceremony was attended, among others, by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, as well as representatives of the embassies and armed forces of Lithuania, Latvia and Norway (Polish prime minister announces new contract for Piorun MANPADS).
Piorun MANPADS shoulder launcher with transport case
Consortium of countries
The framework agreement is valued at 8 billion PLN net. As Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz noted in his remarks, this is the largest Piorun procurement to date in terms of value. The missiles will be used by the Polish Armed Forces, as well as by the armed forces of Latvia, Lithuania and Norway. The minister emphasized that this is the first agreement of its kind in which the consortium is formed not by companies, but by countries. The consortium consists of Poland, as the lead nation represented by the Armament Agency, Lithuania, Latvia and Norway. Deliveries of Piorun systems will continue through 2030.
Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz also stated that the first implementing agreement should be signed within the next several days. Looking at the calendar, it can be assumed that this will take place during MSPO in Kielce in early September this year.
The framework agreement covers the procurement of several thousand additional Piorun MANPADS, together with simulators and training and logistics packages, for the Polish Armed Forces and other NATO countries under joint procurement carried out within the SAFE program. More than 80% of all missiles and launch units covered by the order will be intended for the Polish Armed Forces.
The agreement was signed by (from left): Renata Gruszczyńska, President of the Management Board of Mesko S.A.; Maj. Gen. Artur Kuptel, Head of the Armament Agency; and Marcin Ożóg, Member of the Management Board of Mesko S.A.
Mesko: 2000 Pioruns per year
The signed agreement marks another stage in the development of the Piorun program, which has become one of the most important products of the Polish defense industry and one of the world’s most recognizable very-short-range air defense systems. Developed and manufactured in Poland, the system has gained international recognition for its high effectiveness, reliability and resistance to jamming, capabilities that have also been confirmed under real combat conditions.
As Arkadiusz Bąk, Vice President of PGZ responsible for the Piorun Department, noted, just a few years ago the production rate stood at around 300 missiles annually. Current production capacity is approximately 1,500 missiles per year, while the target is to increase output to more than 2,000 missiles annually.
The framework agreement covers the sale of several thousand Piorun missiles together with launchers, simulators, and training and logistics packages.
The consortium established for the procurement of Piorun systems consists of Poland, as the lead nation represented by the Armament Agency, Lithuania, Latvia and Norway. Deliveries will continue through 2030.
Piorun MANPADS are designed to engage low-flying aerial targets such as aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles. In the Polish Armed Forces, they are used in the lowest layer of the air defense system for very-short-range and low-altitude engagements (VSHORAD).
Piorun is an upgraded version of the Grom MANPADS, which is also in service with the Polish Armed Forces. The modernization introduced a modified launch mechanism, a new seeker with increased sensitivity, and an electro-optical sight mounted on a dedicated rail. These changes improved target acquisition capability, resistance to jamming and engagement range.
The upgrades also included the introduction of a proximity fuze, in addition to the existing impact fuze, and a directional warhead, increasing effectiveness against small targets such as unmanned aerial vehicles. An operator authorization system and the ability to engage targets at night were also introduced.
Work on Piorun successor
The Piorun system is currently one of the greatest export successes of the Polish defense industry. By the end of 2025, Mesko had signed export contracts covering deliveries of the system to Latvia, Moldova, Norway, Estonia, the United States, Belgium and Sweden. According to company representatives, additional countries seeking proven and effective air defense solutions have also expressed interest in the system (Polish arms exports and imports in 2025).
Piorun missile launcher sighting system components / Photos: Grzegorz Sobczak
At the same time, Mesko is continuing development work on the next generation of missile systems. Piorun NG and the Grzmot system are intended to provide users with greater combat capabilities than Piorun, increased engagement range and broader integration with Polish air defense systems.
The implementing agreement for the procurement of Piorun systems for the Polish Armed Forces will be financed through the SAFE instrument.
