Germany and France Signal Interest in Poland’s Piorun MANPADS for Drone and Missile Defense.

Poland’s Deputy Defense Minister Cezary Tomczyk confirmed on February 13, 2026, that Germany has expressed initial interest in acquiring the Polish-made Piorun man-portable air defense system, with France also examining a potential purchase under the SAFE framework. The parallel discussions highlight Europe’s urgent push to reinforce short-range air defenses in response to Russia’s war in Ukraine and the growing threat from drones and low-flying aircraft.

Speaking at the Polish Prime Minister’s Chancellery in Warsaw on February 13, 2026, Deputy Minister of National Defence Cezary Tomczyk confirmed that Germany has signaled preliminary interest in procuring the Polish-developed Piorun man-portable air defense system, according to Defence24. Just days later, the same outlet reported that France is also evaluating a potential acquisition through the European SAFE framework, with some systems expected to be transferred onward to Ukraine. French interest dates back at least to March 17, 2025, when Polish Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz publicly acknowledged discussions with Paris.
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Current confirmed operators of Piorun MANPADS include Poland, Ukraine, Norway, and Belgium, while additional European countries have previously been identified as users or recipients(Picture source: ArmyRecognition)

The Piorun, also designated GROM-M and nicknamed Thunder, is a modernized iteration of the earlier GROM Man-Portable Air-Defense Systems (MANPADS). Developed and manufactured by Mesko S.A., it draws on technological lineage linked to the Soviet-designed 9K38 Igla, known in NATO terminology as SA-18 Grail, while incorporating substantial upgrades enabled by advances in microelectronics and propulsion chemistry. First publicly presented at the MSPO defense exhibition in September 2015 under the name GROM-M, the system entered Polish service following a December 2016 contract under which the Ministry of National Defence ordered 1,300 missiles. Since then, it has progressively expanded its export footprint across Europe.

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute Arms Trade Database, Poland has delivered around 1,000 Piorun systems to Ukraine. Norway signed a procurement contract on November 29, 2022, while Mesko confirmed at the end of December 2022 a separate contract with a Baltic state. On July 29, 2025, Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken announced that Belgium would acquire 40 Piorun systems, with deliveries beginning later that year. In December 2025, the Belgian Special Operations Regiment received its first units in Heverlee, marking the integration of the system into elite ground formations. Current confirmed operators include Poland, Ukraine, Norway, and Belgium, while additional European countries have previously been identified as users or recipients.

The system is designed for operation by a single soldier and consists of a single-use launch tube, a gripstock serving as the control and aiming module, and an external power supply unit. The complete ready-to-fire weight is approximately 16.5 kilograms, comparable to the earlier GROM. The launch tube, made of lightweight composite materials, protects the missile and incorporates carrying and sling fixtures. The gripstock integrates trigger, safety, and arming controls, while a day and night optical sight mounted on the tube supports engagements under varied visibility conditions. A small keypad positioned on the right side of the trigger module allows the operator to select engagement modes and adapt parameters to the target type and operational environment.

The missile itself is a solid-fueled surface-to-air interceptor equipped with a passive infrared homing seeker operating in the medium infrared spectrum. It measures approximately 1,596 millimeters in length with a diameter of 72 millimeters and weighs around 10.5 kilograms, including a 1.82-kilogram high- explosive fragmentation warhead. Maximum flight speed reaches about 660 meters per second. The engagement envelope spans distances from roughly 400 meters up to 6 kilometers, with altitude coverage between 10 meters and 4,000 meters. A proximity fuse increases effectiveness against small aerial targets such as unmanned aerial vehicles, while the upgraded seeker architecture is designed to improve resistance to flares and infrared jamming. Detection range is reported at up to 8 kilometers, extending situational awareness beyond the immediate firing distance.

Piorun is optimized for head-on and tail-chase engagements against low-flying aircraft, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles, and certain cruise missiles, including in cluttered and electronically contested environments. Reaction time is estimated between five and ten seconds, enabling rapid response to fleeting targets. Once the operator identifies and locks onto a heat source, the missile’s seeker guides the interceptor autonomously after launch. Its portability enables infantry units to reposition quickly and establish dispersed air denial pockets without reliance on heavy radar assets, though performance remains dependent on line of sight, weather conditions, and integration with broader command-and-control networks.

For Germany, a potential acquisition would complement ongoing efforts to reinforce layered ground-based air defense, particularly in light of operational lessons drawn from Ukraine. Integrating a combat-proven very short-range system into Bundeswehr formations could enhance the protection of maneuver units and logistics hubs against low-altitude threats. For France, renewed interest under the SAFE program, building on the March 2025 declaration by its Polish counterpart, reflects continuity in Paris’ evaluation of short-range solutions, while aligning with sustained military assistance to Kyiv if part of the order is transferred onward.

Beyond immediate capability gains, the possible entry of Germany and France into the Piorun user community would further consolidate Poland’s defense industrial position within NATO. Wider European adoption of standardized very short-range systems strengthens interoperability and supply resilience at a time when air and missile threats remain central to continental security planning. In that environment, the diffusion of Piorun across allied forces carries implications that extend from tactical force protection to the evolving balance of industrial and strategic influence within the Alliance.