So far, the Piorun missiles have proven highly effective in the hands of Ukrainian soldiers, who have successfully used them against Russian helicopters, among other targets. The weapon is produced by Mesko, a company within the Polish Armaments Group (PGZ), and it is considered a true Polish export hit.
Piorun: A Polish Export Success Now Set to Defend Europe
The Piorun anti-aircraft missile systems have been ordered by Poland, the United States, Ukraine, Norway, Georgia, Estonia, and Slovakia. According to the manufacturer, current production capacity is around 1,000 missiles per year, with each missile costing approximately 900,000 PLN. As reported by "Rzeczpospolita," Mesko now has the opportunity for additional orders linked to the EU's EDIRPA instrument, which aims to "enhance the European defense industry through cooperative procurement." This program was established based on a regulation by the European Parliament and the EU Council, with a budget of 310 million euros. In June, representatives from the Ministry of National Defense mentioned the submission of six other Polish products to the program, but for now, only the Piorun systems are included.
As explained by Lt. Col. Grzegorz Polak, spokesperson for the Armaments Agency, a joint application in the "Air Defense and Anti-Missile Defense" category was submitted by Estonia, Lithuania, Norway, and Poland. The other three applications were expected to come from the Polish Armaments Group, including the Piorun portable anti-aircraft missile system, the Baobab-K remote-controlled minelaying vehicle, and the MSBS Grot rifles, as well as from the WB Group, featuring the FlyEye drones, WarMate loitering munitions, and the Gladius strike and reconnaissance system.
Piorun Anti-Aircraft Missile Systems Are Just the Beginning
The reason for the fewer-than-expected applications from Poland is simple: the project requires the participation of several European countries that want to purchase the product, while the industry must also have adequate production capabilities. This required quick agreement from other countries, which is not always easy. Success was achieved with Norway and Estonia, as they had previously ordered Pioruns.
"As the project leader, we could gain over 100 million PLN in bonuses for joint purchases, funded by the interested countries," the report states. The "Air Defense" portion within the EDIRPA framework has a total budget of over 100 million euros. The move with the Piorun system within the EDIRPA instrument is intended to be just the beginning. The instrument is planned for 2024-2025 and is seen as a pilot program leading to another program, EDIP, which will have a budget of 1.5 billion euros for 2025-2027.
