From April 7 to 12, 2026, the FIDAE 2026 air show took place in Santiago, Chile, where Mesko – a company within the Polish Armaments Group (PGZ) – presented its leading export product, the Piorun man-portable air-defense system (MANPADS).
Photo: Mesko
At the 24th edition of FIDAE, PGZ companies took part by presenting the latest technological solutions, security and defense systems, as well as products developed and manufactured in Poland. The company’s presence at the show allowed it to showcase its technological solutions, build relationships with partners, and use Chile as a gateway for expansion into South America.
FIDAE is the International Air and Space Fair, held every two years, and provides an excellent opportunity for exchanging experience and establishing international business contacts. The event is one of the most important in Latin America in the fields of defense and security.
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 battlefield conditions have 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).
The Piorun man-portable air-defense systems are designed to engage low-flying aerial targets such as aircraft, helicopters, and drones. In the Polish Armed Forces, they are used in the lowest layer of the air defense system for very short-range air defense (VSHORAD) at short distances and low altitudes.
Piorun is a modernized version of the Grom MANPADS, which is also in service with the Polish military. As part of the modernization, it received a modified launch mechanism, a new seeker head with greater sensitivity, and an optoelectronic sight mounted on a dedicated rail. As a result, target acquisition capabilities, resistance to jamming, and engagement range were increased to 5,500–6,500 meters at altitudes from 10 to 4,000 meters.
The changes also included the introduction of a proximity fuze, alongside the existing impact fuze, as well as a directional warhead, increasing effectiveness against small targets such as unmanned aerial vehicles. In addition, a user authorization system and the ability to engage targets at night were introduced.
The Piorun MANPADS has already been purchased by Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Georgia, Moldova, Norway, Sweden, Belgium, and the United States. Most recently, France expressed interest in acquiring Mesko’s export hit; earlier, interest also came from a Balkan country, and the system was presented in Thailand. Slovakia is also expected to sign a purchase agreement soon, while according to media reports, Piorun will become part of the Israeli SPYDER system ordered by Romania in July last year.
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