Seven military export hits from Poland: Grom, Piorun and Rosomak

Piorun – a conqueror of Russian helicopters and missiles

The portable anti -aircraft set (Manpad) Piorun is one of those weapons that had their combat debut on the Ukrainian front. And it was an extremely successful debut. Ukrainians not only proved that the Polish construction works great in shooting down helicopters, which is its main purpose, but has a much broader range of possibilities. Rocket sets operators can effectively liquidate Russian maneuvering missiles. SU-25 and KA-52 Aligator aircraft are also among the shot down goals.

The great advantage of lightning is Thermovision, which allows you to operate in night conditions, by leading a missile to a goal away by up to 6 km, while the main competitor in this class of weapons, American Stinger operates in a maximum of 4.8 km. High precision in targeting the target means that lightning is also used to fight drones, which Russia uses widely to attacks on Ukraine.

Ukrainian military do not hide that Polish anti -aircraft sets are one of those weapons whose delivery has significantly affected the course of the conflict, and the image of a soldier with a characteristic launcher on the shoulder is one of the symbols of this war, already used by Ukrainian pop culture.

– Lightning as a set proved that it is the world's best construction in its class. This is a statement of users, not just the manufacturer. Currently, he outclasses all other sets of this type – said Dr. Eng. Przemysław Kowalczuk, president of PGZ electronic company Pit-Radwar SA and Vice President of the Mesko SA rocket-amunic to

What is the advantage of the Polish product? In addition to Polish, Manpad weapons are mainly produced by the United States and Russia, but these are non -modernized constructions for years. Meanwhile, lightning was based on the latest experience in the battlefield, including the war in Georgia in 2008. Currently, work is underway on subsequent variants of lightning, taking into account experiences from the Ukrainian Front.

Where are lightning exported? The USA, Estonia and Norway have already decided to buy.

See also: Ranking of the most powerful fleets in the world in 2023. For the US, the jokes are over

GROM anti -aircraft rocket set

Before lightning appeared, in 1995 the production of portable GROM rocket sets began. Thus, Poland joined the group of countries producing weapons from the Manpad category. The first copies were still based on imported elements, only in 2002. sets went to the hands of soldiers from the beginning to the end of domestic production.

The task of the GROM sets is to combat low -moving air targets, primarily aircraft and helicopters, which the bullet is guided by infrared. In addition, it is possible to install a thermal sight, so that the set can also be used at night. Effectively eliminates targets about 5.5 km.

The opportunity to check this equipment in battle came in 2008 after the Russian Federation attack on Georgia. The thunder was equipped with the Georgian army. It is known that several copies were then taken over by the Russian army. Then they went to the separatists from the self -proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic. The thunder importers include Indonesia, the USA, Lithuania and Finland, and one test copy also went to Japan.

S-70i Black Hawk-from Mielec to the world

The history of the export version of the American helicopters in Poland began in 2007, when the Polish Aviation Plant in Mielec was bought by an American company – they currently belong to Lockheed Martin Helicopter Company. Three years later, the first helicopter was ready. From that moment Black Hawki from Mielec are exported to the whole world, not only for the needs of the army, but also other services. They were purchased, among others by the Mexican and Turkish police. Saudi Arabia, Chile, Brunei and Colombia were also among the recipients. One of the largest orders was placed by the Philippines. In March 2019, a contract was signed to provide 16 pieces, while in 2022 another 32. In total, the value of the order amounts to around $ 870 million. The first of the ordered copies, as planned, went to the Philippines in 2020.

PZL Mielec also produces Black Hawki for the needs of the Polish army. Currently, four such helicopters are equipped with GROM. The next four, also for the needs of specialists, were ordered in 2021. Probably in the future helicopters from Mielec will also go to other units.

Grot – the first export success

Until the beginning of the 21st century, the Polish army used a large extent Soviet weapon. The Grot carabiner was created to create a native counterweight for eastern equipment. The project created at the Military University of Technology went to production at the “Łucznik” weapon factory. The first rifles were included in the army in 2017. Since then, several thousand pieces of this weapon have already hit the hands of soldiers. The caves are distinguished by a modular construction, which allows a soldier to create an individually matched variant, thanks to the selection of individual elements – all teams are interchangeable.

This is another weapon that had her combat debut – and at the same time outside our country – in Ukraine. About 10,000 pieces went to the front – they were partly used rifles, partly new. It is known that after testing the cave on the battlefield, Ukraine decided to buy a certain batch of rifles – however, the public size of this contract was not made public. It is also known that In 2022, a contract was signed to deliver a certain batch of rifles to one of the countries of East Africa.

AHS KRAB – a record contract of the Polish reinforcement

The self -propelled armatohaubica turned out to be a real export hit after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. Initially, 18 copies were handed over to the front of the Polish army's resources. They proved themselves in the fight extremely well – Ukrainian soldiers particularly appreciate their role in the fighting for Bachmut and near Chersonia. It was a combat debut of this equipment. So successful that Ukraine decided to buy more crabs.

The contract signed with Huta Stalowa Wola belonging to the Polish Armaments Group is the largest agreement of this type since the beginning of the Third Polish Republic. Our Eastern neighbors ordered 54 copies. According to the financial statements, the sale of crabs was responsible for more than half of the export of all PGZ in 2022.

The success of crabs is largely responsible for their reliability and the ability to integrate their operation with Flyeeye drones, also produced by a Polish company. The accuracy of the Topaz fire control system, which is based on the reconnaissance data transmitted by drones, also affects the accuracy of the crabs.

Rosomak – great hopes and long waiting for success

Whoever Rosomak, i.e. a circular armored personnel carrier offered in different variants, is widely used by the Polish army, but for years it was not possible to implement plans for the interest in this equipment of foreign recipients. Although it was announced that Rosomak would be an export hit of our reinforcement, it was only possible to sell 40 vehicles to the United Arab Emirates in 2016.

The war in Ukraine turned out to be a breakthrough. Rosomaki debuted on it in August this year. Three months earlier, the signing of a contract for the purchase of 150 who Rosomak for the needs of the Ukrainian army was announced. This purchase will be financed from EU funds and funds transferred by the USA.

What next with Polish exports?

In recent years, the level of exports in the arms sector has been below the expected level. In 2020, the list of exported products looked not very impressive: 23 armored combat vehicles, 22 large caliber artillery systems, 80 thunders and 11 S-70i Black Hawk helicopters. Just look at the last contracts and you can see that the scale is incomparable.

Does this mean that the war in Ukraine has opened a new chapter in our arms industry? It certainly increased the interest in Polish constructions, which tested in battle, turned out to be modern and high quality products, which could boldly compete with Western weapons. And even – as in the case of lightning – they distance the competition. Another potential export hits are waiting in the queue, such as BWP Borsuk, which is to enter serial production at the turn of 2023/2024. The chances of success are therefore very high. It remains only to skillfully use them.

For now, Mariusz Błaszczak has approved a framework agreement between the Armament Agency and the consortium of companies Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa SA and Huta Stalowa Wola SA for the supply of 1,400 infantry combat vehicles for the Polish army.

As we read on the pages of the Polish Army, the vehicle is based on a universal, modular Gąsienicowa platform (UMPG) and equipped with a remote-controlled tower system (ZSSW-30). The crew is three soldiers: commander, weapon operator and driver. The vehicle is intended for transporting six soldiers to the area of the battlefield, while providing an adequate level of protection.

“The vehicle has the opportunity to combat infantry, armored vehicles, air targets and other facilities in all weather conditions and at any time of the day.

The maximum speed when moving on hardened roads is 65 km/h and swimming 8 km/h. The combat mass of the vehicle in the basic variant is 28 tons.