Belgium Signs Deal to Procure 200–300 Polish Piorun Air Defense Systems

Belgium has signed a letter of intent to purchase between 200 and 300 Polish-made Piorun man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS), the Polish Ministry of Defense announced.

The document was signed by Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz and Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken.

Financial terms and contract details, including delivery schedules, were not disclosed.

The deal is expected to include training systems, inert missiles, and support services.

Currently, the Belgian Armed Forces rely on French-made Mistral 3 systems for short-range air defense.

Given Belgium’s plans to expand its military capabilities, officials may see the Piorun as a stopgap to cover existing air-defense gaps — or potentially as a long-term complement to the Mistral 3.

Piorun MANPADS

The Piorun is a modernized version of Poland’s Grom system, produced by Mesko. The upgraded missile features a seeker with four times greater sensitivity and a 1.82 kg warhead.

It can engage targets at altitudes up to 4,000 meters and at a range of up to 6,500 meters.

Poland delivered its first Piorun systems to Ukraine in early February 2022, though the number transferred remains undisclosed.

Combat-proven and in high demand amid a global shortage of MANPADS, the Piorun has been adopted by countries including Norway, Estonia, Lithuania, Georgia, and Slovakia.

The United States has also expressed interest in procuring the system.

Poland is currently developing a next-generation version of the system, dubbed Piorun NG.