Belgium to Purchase 300 Piorun MANPADS from Polish Firm, MESCO

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

The document was signed during a bilateral meeting between Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz and Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken. While the letter of intent marks a major step forward, key contract specifics—including the overall value, delivery timeline, and system quantities—have not yet been disclosed.

“Security, which is the result of changes that are taking place in defense spending in Europe, is precisely this contract that we are signing today. The letter of intent that we have signed concerns the purchase of Piorun sets—about 200, between 200 and 300 sets that Belgium will acquire—but also the exchange of experiences. We will use the skills that Belgian pilots have already acquired in operating the F-35, because we are buying the same versions, the same configured versions of the F-35. Let me remind you, the first Polish F-35s are already flying—for now in the United States, where our pilots are training, and Belgian pilots are training in the same way. We will exchange experiences, but we will also exchange experiences in using various types of equipment that we buy from our friends in the United States, improving our skills,” said Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz.

The potential agreement is expected to include not only live missiles but also training systems, inert rounds, and logistical support, aligning with Belgium’s efforts to upgrade its air-defense network.

Currently, the Belgian Armed Forces operate French-made Mistral 3 systems for short-range protection. The possible addition of the Piorun could serve either as a stopgap to address capability gaps or as a longer-term complementary system alongside the Mistral fleet.

Manufactured by Polish defense firm Mesko, the Piorun is a modernized version of the earlier Grom system. It features a seeker with quadruple the sensitivity of its predecessor, a 1.82-kilogram warhead, and can engage targets at altitudes of up to 4,000 meters and distances of up to 6,500 meters.

The system has gained attention since it was first delivered to Ukraine in February 2022. Although the number of units transferred to Ukraine remains undisclosed, the Piorun’s operational performance in conflict zones has contributed to rising international interest.

In parallel, Poland is developing a next-generation version of the system, known as Piorun NG, indicating continued investment in its missile technology sector.