WARSAW — Polish defense technology company MESKO and Poland’s MND Armaments Agency have signed a framework agreement to supply thousands of Piorun missiles and launch systems for the international EDIRPA consortium.
EDIRPA, comprised of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Norway, is an EU program aimed at incentivizing cooperation in defense procurement between member states to jointly coordinate and acquire the most urgent and critical defense product needs, especially amid Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
“This contract is worth PLN 8 billion [over $2.16 billion], the largest contract in history for the purchase of Piorun MANPADS, both launch systems and missiles, which will be used by the Polish Armed Forces, the Armed Forces of the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, and the Kingdom of Norway,” said Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz during a ceremony announcing the deal. “This is the first agreement of this type where the consortium is formed not by a company, but by a state.”
Under the agreement, the four countries in EDIRPA will acquire Piorun MANPADS, along with simulators and training and logistics packages as part of the EU SAFE program. While the number of missiles and launchers has not been disclosed, the Polish Army will receive 80 percent of the equipment. Deliveries will continue through 2030.
