Sweden finalizes deal for Polish portable anti-aircraft missile systems

Sweden has finalized a multimillion-dollar deal with Polish defence technology manufacturer Mesko to procure portable anti-aircraft missile systems.

The agreement is valued at 3 billion Swedish kronor (approx. $320 million) and sets deliveries of Piorun systems for 2027, as reported by The Defence Post. The contract comes after months of talks, beginning with a letter of intent signed in March 2025 and followed by a preliminary order in June.

The acquisition of Piorun systems is intended to enhance Sweden’s very short-range air defence capabilities while advancing the broader modernization of its armed forces. Earlier in June, Stockholm also confirmed the purchase of Germany’s IRIS-T SLM medium-range air defence system in a separate 9 billion Swedish kronor (approx. $930 million) deal.

In the long term, Sweden has committed to significantly increasing defence expenditures, with plans to spend roughly 300 billion Swedish kronor (approx. $32 billion) over the next decade. This will raise defence spending from the current 2.4% of GDP to 3.5% by 2030.

“Piorun is an example of a product that combines innovation, reliability, and experience gained from real-world battlefields,” said Renata Gruszczyńska, the President of the Management Board of Mesko.

“Today’s agreement confirms that the company is effectively developing as part of the Polish Armaments Group and making a real contribution to the security of allied countries.”

The Piorun, which weighs 19.5 kilograms, can hit targets up to 6,500 meters away and at altitudes of up to 4,000 meters.

Sweden’s order follows similar acquisitions by the United States, Belgium, Norway, and Estonia. The system has been operated by Polish forces since 2019 and was supplied in large numbers to Ukraine in 2022.

The Polish Armaments Group (Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa [PGZ]) is Poland's largest defence industry company and one of the largest in Europe. The state-owned defence conglomerate concentrates several dozen production plants, service facilities and research centres.

“It is also important proof of the effectiveness of the current Mesko management and the effect of the Polish government’s support for the development of the domestic defence industry,” Gruszczyńska added.

By Nazrin Sadigova