Georgia Signs Contract with Poland for Piorun-M MANPADS Air Defense Missile Systems

The Georgian Ministry of Defense has officially announced the signing of a contract with the Polish company MESKO S.A. for the acquisition of Piorun-M MANPADS (Man-Portable Air Defense Missile Systems).

Discussions between Georgia's Deputy Minister of Defense and MESKO S.A. representatives centered on the strategic importance of integrating modern NATO-standard weaponry into Georgia's defense system. Both parties also explored potential future collaborative endeavors, aiming to strengthen defense partnerships.

The Piorun-M MANPADS, colloquially known as "Thunder," is an advanced version of the GROM MANPADS, designed by MESKO as a successor to the Soviet-era 9K38 Igla (SA-18 Grail).

The Piorun-M features a new missile equipped with an updated warhead, offering an effective range between 400 meters and 6 kilometers. It is capable of engaging targets at altitudes ranging from 10 meters to 4 kilometers. The 2-kilogram missile is designed for enhanced effectiveness against small-sized aerial targets, including UAVs, with a proximity fuse. Even in jamming conditions, the Piorun's missile maintains a 10% hit probability.

This acquisition is set to replace Georgia's existing stock of 100 GROM-2 units, acquired from Poland in 2007.