Polish man-portable air-defense system in use by Polish, Ukrainian armies

MANPADS Piorun: description and history

The Polish-made Piorun man-portable anti-aircraft missile system is designed to combat low-flying targets: airplanes, helicopters, and drones. This is a joint development of the Military Technological University and the companies CRW Telesystem-Mesko sp. and Mesko S.A.

Man-portable air-defense system Piorun (in service since 2018) is a deep modernization of Grom (in service since 1995), which, in turn, was a localized version of the Soviet system Igla with Russian components, which was produced in Poland under license.

As a result of the modernization, the effectiveness of the passive infrared homing head was significantly increased. Due to the increase in sensitivity, the range of the impression of the target increased, as well as resistance to obstacles, a non-contact detonator was installed, and the MANPADS was adapted for use in night conditions.

Man-portable air-defense system Piorun the Grom by a modified launcher and sight, which increases the ability to detect the target. The launcher has a pursuit/encounter mode switch that is used to activate the missile mode to engage a receding or approaching target. A battery cartridge and an authorization system that prevents unauthorized use of system were added. 

The target detection range was increased, a new homing head stabilized by a laser gyroscope was developed. Modification of the homing head increased resistance to obstacles. In this regard, the detection ranges were optimized, the dynamics of signal processing systems increased, as well as new spectral ranges and kinematic selection were used.

The Piorun missile is automatically directed to a heat source (for example, an airplane). Due to the use of a new homing head detector, including the argon-cooled photodiode, which has 4 times greater sensitivity than before, the missile detects air attack means at a much greater distance. The rocket engine was also modernized.

The efficiency of destroying drones with missiles has been improved by using a laser proximity detonator (next to the impact detonator) and a larger warhead with octagon and aluminum powder.

The Piorun impact zone is at an altitude of 10-4000 m, at a range of 500-6500 km, the speed of the target on oncoming courses is up to 400 m/s, catching up to 320 m/s, the average speed of the missile is 660 m/s, its length is 1,596 m, diameter is 72 mm, weight is 16.5 kg, missiles are 10.5 kg, as well as warheads are 1.82 kg.

And the Grom has an impact zone of only 10-3500 m at a height of 500-5500 km, the weight of the complex and missile is the same, and the warhead is 1.35 kg.

Grom is no worse than the newest Russian man-portable air-defense system Verba, which has an impact zone at an altitude of 10-4500 m, and a range of 500-6400 km.

Piorun in the Polish Armed Forces

In the Polish Armed Forces, Priorun are intended for regular units (air defense units of brigades and missile and artillery units of anti-aircraft missile regiments of divisions), as well as air defense batteries of territorial defense brigades. In addition to the system itself, Piorun missiles are part of the anti-aircraft systems Poprad, Pilica, and, after minor changes, the Biała and Jodek-G complexes.

The Poprad self-propelled system (there are 79 units) has a short-range air defense system on a 4x4 BA Zubr-P chassis. It has a TV camera, thermal imager, laser range finder, as well as 4 Grom/Piorun missiles plus 4 spare missiles.

The Biala self-propelled complex (there are 28 units) is a Soviet 23-mm ZSU-23-4 Shilka, upgraded to ZSU-23-4MP with the installation of a TV camera and a thermal imager instead of a radar, a new anti-aircraft vehicle, as well as 4 Grom/Piorun systems. 

The Jodek-G trailer complex (there are 530 units) is a Soviet 23-mm ZU-23, upgraded to a ZUR-23-2KG with an improved sight and 2 Grom/Piorun systems. 

The new Pilica self-propelled system (there are 6 units, there will be 30 more) has a Jodek-G fire installation installed in the body of a Jelcz 442.32 4×4 truck.

The contract for the supply of man-portable air-defense systems Piorun for the Polish troops was signed in 2016, and 420 PUs and 1,300 missiles will be delivered by 2022.

Piorun in Ukraine

In 2022, as a result of the successful use of Piorun systems by the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the increase in demand, an increase in production was announced. If by 2022, the number of manufactured systems was up to 300 PUs per year, then in 2022, 600 PUs and 3,500 missiles will be delivered, and in 2023, 1,000 PUs are planned.

In the war in Ukraine, Piorun systems proved their effectiveness against Russian air targets. Thus, with the help of Piorun, the Ukrainian Armed Forces destroyed Russian helicopters and airplanes, in particular Mi-24 and Su-25 and even Su-34. And in May, fighters of the 95th Brigade shot down 2 Russian Ka-52 reconnaissance and attack helicopters, using Piorun. Orlan-10 drones were also shot down by Piorun systems. 

Conclusions

The Polish Piorun is a state-of-the-art anti-aircraft complex that entered the Polish Army only in 2019. It meets all the modern requirements of the world level of the man-portable air-defense systems of this class and surpasses most of them. To combat all Russian helicopters with a flight height of up to 4 km, or low-flying aircraft, this is a better option compared to the Soviet Igla available in the Ukrainian Armed Forces. According to some Polish sources, capturing the target is possible even at 7-8 km!