Piorun
PPZR Piorun missile with launcher
TypeMan-portable air-defense system
Place of originPoland
Service history
In service2019 (2019)–present
Used bySee Operators
Wars2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
Production history
Designed2010 (2010)–2015 (2015)
ManufacturerMesko
Unit cost1.8 million EUR per system [1]
Produced2016 (2016)–present
Specifications
Mass16.5 kg (36 lb) total
10.5 kg (23 lb) missile
Length1.596 m (5.24 ft)
Diameter72 mm (2.8 in)
Crew1
WarheadHMX with aluminium powder
Warhead weight1.82 kg (4.0 lb)
Detonation
mechanism
impact fuze with a delay mechanism, and a proximity fuze for C-UAS
EngineSolid-fuel rocket motor
Operational
range
400 m (1,300 ft)–6.5 km (4.0 mi)
Flight ceiling4 km (13,000 ft)
Flight altitude10 m (33 ft)–4,000 m (13,000 ft)
Maximum speed 660 m/s (Mach 2.0; 2,400 km/h; 1,500 mph)
Guidance
system
infrared homing with argon-cooled seeker
Launch
platform
MANPADS

The Piorun (Polish: "thunderbolt") is a Polish man-portable air-defense system, designed to destroy low-flying aircraft, airplanes, helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles. The set is a deep modernization of the PPZR Grom set, with an alternative designation of Grom-M.

The full name of the system is PPZR Piorun (Polish: Przenośny Przeciwlotniczy Zestaw Rakietowy Piorun).[2]

History

The Piorun Portable Anti-Aircraft Missile System is produced by the Mesko company and was created as a result of the GROM system modernization carried out in 2010–15. As part of the modernization, the effectiveness of the homing warhead was significantly improved by increasing the sensitivity of detection, which increased the distance at which the missile is able to target and hit the target, increased resistance to interference was obtained, a proximity fuze was used, an access authorization system and the set for fire was adapted for use in night conditions.[3][4][5]

In 2016, the Ministry of National Defence signed a contract for the purchase of 420 launchers (launch mechanisms) and 1,300 rockets for the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland, planned for 2017–2020 delivery. Due to delays caused by technical problems with the propulsion system, the delivery of rockets and launch devices began in 2019 after successful testing. In 2020, Piorun missiles were fired from Poprad self-propelled anti-aircraft missile systems. The missiles are used not only by Poprad, but also by anti-aircraft missile and artillery system PSR-A Pilica.[3][2]

In 2022, Poland announced the rapid supply of Ukraine with Pioruns during the 2021–2023 Russo-Ukrainian crisis. [6]

Operational history

During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Armed Forces of Ukraine said that a number of Russian jet fighters (Su-34, Su-25) and helicopters (Mi-24, Ka-52) were shot down with Piorun missiles.[7][8][9]

Operators

A Piorun model for the Norwegian army
Map with Piorun users in blue
 Estonia
100 launchers with 300 missiles ordered in September 2022.[10]
 Georgia
Undisclosed number ordered in January 2024.[11]
 Latvia
Undisclosed number ordered by Latvia.[12]
 Lithuania
The manufacturer disclosed that Piorun was exported to Lithuania in 2023 (although the country did not officially announce it).[13]
 Norway
Undisclosed number ordered in November 2022.[14] To be used by the jaeger battalion at Garrison of Sør-Varanger.[15]
 Poland
At least 1,300 missiles were delivered. Another order of 3,500 missiles alongside 600 MANPAD launchers is to be delivered in 2022.[16]
 Slovakia
36 launchers chosen in October 2023 for 65.8 million EUR.[17] The contract has not been signed yet.[18]
 Ukraine
Undisclosed number delivered in 2022.[6][19][20]
 United States
Undisclosed number ordered in 2022.[19]

References

  1. ^ "Piorun a Barak – aké rakety protivzdušnej obrany chce Slovensko nakúpiť?". Pravda.sk. 6 October 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Pierwsze strzelanie Piorunami z Popradów". Milmag (in Polish). December 2020. Retrieved 2021-01-03.
  3. ^ a b "PPZR Piorun". WML. WAT. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
  4. ^ "Pioruny i nowe Spike już w wojsku". Defence24. Retrieved 2021-01-03.
  5. ^ "Umowa na zakup zestawów "Piorun"". Ministry of National Defence (Poland).
  6. ^ a b "Польща передає Україні новітні ПЗРК "Перун"". February 2, 2022. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  7. ^ Maciej Szopa (2022-03-11). "Gwardia Narodowa Ukrainy: Rosyjski Su-25 zestrzelony Piorunem". Defence24. Retrieved 2022-03-13.
  8. ^ Rafał Muczyński (2022-03-11). "Potwierdzony debiut bojowy ppzr Piorun w UkrainieTekst pochodzi z Magazynu Militarnego MILMAG". MilMag. Retrieved 2022-03-13.
  9. ^ Andrzej Kiński (2022-03-11). "Polskie Pioruny dowodzą skuteczności na Ukrainie". Rzeczpospolita. Retrieved 2022-03-13.
  10. ^ "Estonia purchases Piorun anti-aircraft missile systems from Poland". Reuters. 2022-09-07.
  11. ^ Kiński, Andrzej (2024-01-14). "Gruzja kolejnym użytkownikiem zestawów przeciwlotniczych Piorun". Wydawnictwo militarne ZBIAM (in Polish). Retrieved 2024-01-15.
  12. ^ "MSPO 2023: More Piorun MANPADS to be Exported!". Defence24. 11 September 2023. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  13. ^ "Piorun MANPADS Headed to Slovakia: We Know the Details". Defence24. 9 October 2023. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  14. ^ "Forsvarsmateriell kjøper bærbart luftvern til Hæren". Forsvarsmateriell. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
  15. ^ Nilsen, Thomas. "Jaeger battalion GSV gets weapons to destroy low-flying aircraft and drones". The Barents Observer. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  16. ^ "Poland orders 600 Piorun MANPADS and 3,500 surface-to-air missiles for Polish army | Defense News June 2022 Global Security army industry | Defense Security global news industry army year 2022 | Archive News year".
  17. ^ "Pioruny lecą na Słowację. Znamy szczegóły". defence24.pl (in Polish). 2023-10-04. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
  18. ^ Kiński, Andrzej (2023-12-12). "Pierwsze zestawy Piorun dostarczone Norwegii". Wydawnictwo militarne ZBIAM (in Polish). Retrieved 2024-01-05.
  19. ^ a b "Polish Piorun MANPADS Exported to US and Provided to Ukraine. A Success for Mesko Company". Defence24. 11 February 2022. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
  20. ^ "Kolejne potwierdzenie skuteczności zestawów Piorun na Ukrainie?" (in Polish). Wydawnictwo militarne ZBIAM. 2022-03-11. Retrieved 2022-03-11.
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