New contract signed strengthening Poland's air defense capabilities.

The PGZ-PILICA+ Consortium and the Armament Agency have signed another execution contract under the PILICA+ program. This agreement, signed on December 12, 2023, involves the delivery of Jelcz chassis and their integration with British iLauncher missile launchers.
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MBDAs CAMM iLauncher integrated with a Polish Jelcz 8×8 truck chassis. (Picture source: MBDA)

Jelcz will provide a chassis that will be equipped and integrated at the Military Armament Workshops with the iLauncher systems, as part of the Pilica+ rocket-artillery sets. The contract, valued at approximately 550 million PLN gross, is scheduled to be completed between 2024 and 2029.

Sebastian Chwałek, President of the Management Board of PGZ S.A., highlighted the rapid development and integration of the Pilica+ system, which serves as an intermediate solution between the lowest and medium layers of Poland's multi-layered air and missile defense system. Based on the proven PSR-A Pilica system, Pilica+ is enhanced with iLaunchers, which will eventually be integrated into the short-range Narew program.

The PILICA+ ZRA will include short-range iLauncher missile launchers with CAMM missiles, BYSTRA radars, and components of the PILICA anti-aircraft rocket-artillery systems (PSR-A). This includes a command post, short-range radar, six firing units with artillery tractors, a communication subsystem, ammunition, and transport vehicles, and, in the future, anti-aircraft guns with programmable ammunition and systems designed to counter unmanned aerial vehicles.

The rocket artillery sets are capable of autonomous operations in various weather and visibility conditions, using their own passive recognition and tracking systems and radar information from the battery command post. The system's configuration allows for the recognition, identification, and engagement of aerial targets using missile and artillery fire. Its rapid-firing cannons and range also enable engagement with ground and naval targets. Moreover, the implementation of common data exchange protocols ensures communication and data sharing with other air defense systems.

The PGZ-PILICA+ Consortium includes several key players in the Polish defense industry, namely Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa S.A., Zakłady Mechaniczne Tarnów S.A., PIT-RADWAR S.A., PCO S.A., Jelcz sp. z o.o., MESKO S.A., the Research and Development Center of Maritime Technology, Military Armament Workshops, and Military Electronic Workshops.