Despite the fact that France produces its own Mistral MANPADS, it intends to order Polish Piorun systems. The move aims not only to meet domestic military needs but also to support Ukraine through military aid.
According to Defence24, France plans to fund the purchase via the SAFE program of low-cost European defense loans. The exact value of the contract has not been disclosed, but the total loan for France is expected to reach €16.2 billion.
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Around 70% of the ordered systems will go to the French armed forces, with the remainder being transferred to Ukraine. For Poland, the agreement represents a major success, reinforcing its position as a leading SAFE program beneficiary.
From Defense Express we would like to note that Piorun has been used by the Defense Forces of Ukraine since 2022 and has demonstrated its effectiveness against enemy helicopters, aircraft, and cruise missiles. Therefore, given the shortage of air defense systems, this will be a good reinforcement.
Polish MANPADS have recently achieved strong success on the export market. They have been ordered or are already in service in Belgium, Sweden, Estonia, Latvia, Norway, and Moldova. Thanks to the SAFE program, this list is expected to expand even more.
The success is attributed to strong production and delivery rates. The example of Sweden shows that it took only three months from the signing of the final contract to delivery.
France's decision to buy Polish Piorun MANPADS may seem unusual, since it manufactures its own Mistral systems. However, the Mistral systems are relatively bulky and cannot be carried by a single person, unlike their Polish counterparts. The Swedes had a similar example with the RBS 70.
It should be noted that Piorun is capable of intercepting targets at a distance of 400 m to 6.5 km and at an altitude of up to four km. Annual production hits 1,300 missiles, surpassing the total output of Mistral and Stinger. This also serves as a strong argument in favor of France's choice.
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