Poprad SHORAD Systems Handed Off to the 19th “Lubelska” Mechanized Brigade

This is just the beginning of the deliveries, however, the soldiers now have a possibility to get acquainted with the new assets. The remaining six Poprad systems are scheduled to be delivered to the squadron sometime next year.

Previously, release on delivery of Poprad systems for the Polish Army had been issued in August. Back then the information concerned the delivery of five systems for the air defence squadron of the 17th “Wielkopolska” Mechanized Brigade. This time the delivery concerns an entirely new air defence element that is a part of the newly formed 19th Mechanized Brigade.

The agreement concerning the delivery of 77 series-manufactured examples of the Poprad air defence system has been concluded by and between the Armament Inspectorate of the Polish Ministry of Defence and PIT-RADWAR S.A. on 16th December 2015. It has a value of 1.083 bn. zlotys. According to the schedule adopted, the deliveries were to begin between 2017 and 2018, while the finalization deadline has been set in 2021. The examples ordered follow the first two prototypes. This means that the Polish military would receive 79 Poprad systems in total.
Poprad is a VSHORAD SAM system that is destined to become a part of the lowest layer of the IA/MDS. POPRAD has been designed in order to detect, recognize and destroy airborne targets at close distances and low altitudes with the use of short-range anti-aircraft missiles. The system is armed with 4 Grom or modernized Piorun VSHORAD missiles. The missiles are placed on a column mount installed within the cargo compartment of a Żubr vehicle that is extended when in a combat setting. Poprad can neutralize targets at a distance of up to 5.5 - 6.5 kilometres, flying 3-4 kilometres high, depending on the effector used.