Lightning conquers Europe. France, the next client of the Polish arms industry?

France has expressed “serious interest” in Polish Piorun anti-aircraft systems, PAP learned from sources close to the Ministry of National Defense.

France is another EU country that has recently expressed interest in acquiring the Polish Pioruns. In turn, last Friday, Deputy Minister of Defense Cezary Tomczyk spoke about Germany's willingness to purchase them.

Although in the case of Germany we are talking about a “preliminary” desire to obtain the kits, yes France – as sources close to the Ministry of Defense told PAP – expresses “serious interest” in the equipment.

The Piorun portable anti-aircraft missile system (PPZR) is a very short-range anti-aircraft defense system, which is a deep modernization of the Grom missile, which it surpasses in terms of range, guidance precision and resistance to interference. Lightning can engage targets day and night. The system is designed to combat helicopters, planes and winged missiles at altitudes from 10 to 4,000 m, and at distances from 500 m to over 6,000 meters. Lightning bolts can be used both hand-held and mounted in sets on vehicles, increasing their effectiveness.

In recent months, these Polish-made anti-aircraft systems have been delivered, among others, to: to Sweden, which ordered them in September last year. for approximately EUR 270 million, or Belgium, for which Brussels allocated almost EUR 140 million. Lightning bolts are also used, among others, in Estonia, Latvia, Norway and Moldova. Poland also donated a significant number of kits to Ukraine after the full-scale Russian invasion.

Information about France's interest in Piorun was first reported by Defence24.(PAP)

from/ rbk/ mhr/