Mesko Concludes Another Export Deal on Piorun MANPADS

Mesko issued a release on the conclusion of that contract on 31st December. The Polish missiles would be received by one of the Baltic states. What we know is that the agreement concerns new business, without any further details.

This marks the fourth export deal, involving the Polish new-generation MANPADS. Piorun missiles have already been procured by the US, Estonia, and Norway, competing against world-class solutions, over the course of open procurement procedures.

Ukraine, meanwhile, has received Piorun missiles as a part of a military aid package. The system in question has successfully been used in combat, against Ka-52 or Mi-24/35 gunships, Su-25 and Su-34 attack aircraft, or Orlan-10 UAVs.

Poland also decided to procure more Piorun systems. In June 2022, an annex to the original agreement was signed, extending the scope of that agreement by 600 launch units and 3,500 missiles, for PLN 3.5 bn. The original agreement signed in 2016 concerned 420 launch units and 1,300 missiles. The Mesko company is gradually expanding its manufacturing capacity. Ultimately it would be delivering 1,500 missiles as such per year. Until 2021 the manufacturing output was around 300, while in 2022 the production went up to ca. 600 missiles.

Piorun MANPADS has been developed within the framework of the domestic industry's R&D effort, pursued since the year 2010 by Mesko S.A. (leader), Telesystem-Mesko, and the Military University of Technology. The project has made use of experiences gathered during the development of the Grom missile. Piorun offers better resistance to countermeasures, and greater capabilities when it comes to engaging targets with low thermal signatures.

Piorun can be used against air threats, such as fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft, cruise missiles, and UAVs, at a distance ranging from 400 meters to up to 6.5 kilometres, flying at altitudes ranging from 10 meters to 4 kilometres. The launch unit can be fitted with a thermal imaging sight. This provides the system with all-weather, day and night capability. Not only can the Piorun missiles be shoulder-fired, but they may also be integrated onto Poprad or Pilica anti-aircraft systems.