Poland's Mesko signs €1.9bn deal to supply Piorun air-defence systems to four NATO countries

Polish defence firm Mesko has signed an 8 billion zloty (about €1.9 billion) deal to supply its Piorun man-portable air-defence systems to the armed forces of Poland, Norway, Lithuania and Latvia. The agreement, described as Mesko’s largest-ever purchase of Pioruns, will be financed through the EU’s SAFE mechanism. The company will provide “several hundred” launchers and “several thousand” missiles, with systems designed to target low-flying aircraft including planes, helicopters and drones. Over 80% of deliveries are earmarked for Poland, with the rest going to its three NATO partners.