Poland's Piorun Missile Surpasses U.S. Stinger and French Mistral in Production

Poland has emerged as a major force in short-range air defense manufacturing with its domestically produced Piorun (Thunderbolt) man-portable air-defense system (MANPADS). According to recent reports and official statements from Polish authorities and industry sources, the annual output of the Piorun system now exceeds the combined production of the U.S.-made FIM-92 Stinger and France’s Mistral missile systems. This surge reflects both industrial mobilization and operational demand—particularly driven by lessons from Ukraine.

Piorun Production Surges Past Western Counterparts

In a statement made during MSPO 2024 and reiterated in October 2025 by Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, Poland’s defense industry—specifically PGZ subsidiary Mesko S.A.—has reached an annual production capacity exceeding 6,000 Piorun missiles. This figure surpasses the estimated current output of Raytheon’s FIM-92 Stinger (approximately 1,000–1,500 units/year) and MBDA’s Mistral (estimated at under 1,000 units/year). The figures are based on open-source reporting from Jane’s Defence Weekly, Defense News interviews with NATO officials, and Polish MoD press releases.

The scale-up is part of Poland’s broader defense modernization strategy under its Homeland Defence Act (2022), which allocates over €110 billion through 2035 for military procurement. The demand spike for VSHORAD systems—especially after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine—has led Warsaw to prioritize domestic missile production not only for national use but also for export to allies.

Piorun System Overview: Capabilities and Evolution

The Piorun is an advanced derivative of the Soviet-era Grom system but has undergone significant modernization since development began in the early 2010s. It features:

Infrared homing seeker with improved resistance to countermeasures
Effective range: up to 6.5 km; engagement altitude: up to ~4 km
Enhanced night-fighting capability via integrated thermal sighting
Target types: low-flying aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, UAVs
Launch platform flexibility: man-portable or vehicle-mounted (e.g., Poprad)

The missile uses a dual-mode proximity/fuze warhead optimized for small targets such as drones—a feature that proved decisive in Ukraine where loitering munitions like Shahed-136 have been effectively intercepted using Pioruns.

Operational Combat Validation in Ukraine

Pioruns have seen extensive combat use since early deliveries began to Ukrainian forces in early 2022. According to Ukrainian Air Force statements and OSINT video evidence verified by groups such as Oryxspioenkop and GeoConfirmed:

Pioruns have successfully downed Russian Ka-52 Alligator helicopters at altitudes below ~3 km
The system has demonstrated high effectiveness against Iranian-made Shahed UAVs used by Russia
Ukrainian operators note ease-of-use compared to legacy Soviet-era Igla systems
No confirmed cases of successful spoofing or jamming against deployed Pioruns thus far

This real-world validation has significantly boosted international interest in the system—from Baltic states to Southeast Asia—and solidified Poland’s reputation as a credible defense supplier within NATO.

Export Momentum Builds Amid Global VSHORAD Demand

Following successful field performance in Ukraine and increased global demand for SHORAD/VSHORAD systems due to drone proliferation threats, Poland has signed multiple export deals:

Norway: Ordered several hundred missiles along with Poprad launchers (delivered via Kongsberg integration)
Lithuania & Latvia: Acquired both man-portable units and vehicle-mounted variants since mid-2023
USA: Conducted trials with interest reportedly expressed by National Guard units lacking sufficient Stingers post-Ukrainian aid transfers
Southeast Asia: Unnamed countries reportedly negotiating framework agreements via PGZ channels as of late Q3/2025

This growing customer base reflects not only performance but also availability—Mesko can deliver large volumes rapidly due to vertical integration across its supply chain.

Aging Western Systems Lag Behind Industrially

The surge in Polish production also highlights stagnation among legacy Western MANPADS programs. The FIM-92 Stinger line was nearly dormant until emergency restarts post-Ukraine war donations; Raytheon received a $624 million contract from the U.S. Army in May 2023 but still faces component obsolescence challenges due to outdated parts suppliers.

The French Mistral system remains effective but is produced at lower volumes primarily for naval applications or niche ground-based SHORAD roles. MBDA has focused more on complex multi-layered systems like VL-MICA or CAMM rather than scaling up VSHORAD lines.

This leaves a capability gap that Poland is increasingly filling—not just within Eastern Europe but across NATO flanks seeking rapid replenishment options amid evolving aerial threats from drones and cruise missiles.