Armed Forces
More Poprad SHORAD Systems for the Polish Military
PIT-RADWAR has announced the delivery of another three self-propelled Poprad SAM systems. 19 systems as such are scheduled to be received by the Polish military by the end of this year.
This has been the second delivery of this year’s lot of 19 systems. During the previous deliveries, 60 examples had been handed off. The contract covering the procurement of Poprads, signed with the Armament Inspectorate back in 2019, pertains to the delivery of 79 systems, with a price tag exceeding 1 bn. zlotys. As 60 Poprad systems have been already delivered, the work would be completed this year.
Poprad systems have been a part of the inventory in some brigades of the Army (including all units operating the Rosomak APCs, and the 19th Mechanized Brigade), and in all of the existing Division-level air defence regiments.
Poprad is armed with Grom and Piorun VSHORAD missiles, offering ranges between 5.5 and 6.5 kilometers, and altitudes between 3.5 and 4 kilometers. It is based on the AMZ Żubr vehicle. It features an autonomous passive target detection and tracking system, with an optronic sensor and IFF system. It can also be a part of a higher-level C2 system. It can be a part of a larger system or work as a part of a broader air defence system.
Protection of land forces is the main purpose of the Poprad system. It may act against aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, and UAVs. The latter capability may be reinforced, as the system could be retrofitted with a non-kinetic counter-UAS solution. In the Polish industry, a concept of Piorun 2 missile has been developed as well, offering an extended range beyond 10 km. The missile could potentially enhance the capabilities of the Poprad system.