Germany Eyes Acquisition of Polish Piorun MANPADS Portable Air Defense Missile to Counter Drones.

Germany has expressed initial interest in acquiring Poland’s Piorun Man Portable Air Defense System, according to a February 13, 2026, report by Defence24. The move signals growing NATO urgency to bolster short-range air defense against drones, cruise missiles, and low-altitude aircraft.

Germany has signaled preliminary interest in procuring Poland’s Piorun Man Portable Air Defense System, according to a February 13, 2026, report by the Polish defense outlet Defence24. This development could deepen European cooperation on short-range air defense at a critical moment for NATO. The shoulder-fired Piorun missile, produced by Poland’s Mesko, has gained combat credibility in Ukraine for its ability to engage low-flying aircraft, helicopters, and small unmanned aerial systems at ranges of up to roughly 6.5 km and altitudes around 4 km.
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The Polish-made Piorun man-portable air defense missile system was displayed at the World Defense Show 2026 in Saudi Arabia. Germany has expressed preliminary interest in acquiring the combat-proven short-range missile system to reinforce the German Army’s very short-range air defense capabilities. (Picture source: Army Recognition Group)

The announcement was made during a press conference at the Prime Minister's Chancellery in Warsaw, where Polish Deputy Minister of National Defense Cezary Tomczyk confirmed that Berlin had expressed preliminary interest in the system. He clarified that discussions remain unofficial and require further refinement before any formal procurement procedure can begin. Still, he acknowledged that Germany’s approach highlights the increasing international recognition of Poland’s defense industrial capabilities.

The Piorun MANPADS (Man-portable air-defense systems), developed and manufactured by Mesko under the Polish Armaments Group PGZ, represents one of the most advanced European-designed man-portable air defense systems currently in production. It is a shoulder-fired, infrared-guided surface-to-air missile optimized to engage helicopters, low-flying aircraft, cruise missiles, and a wide spectrum of unmanned aerial systems. As an evolution of the earlier Grom MANPADS, Piorun incorporates a significantly upgraded seeker with improved sensitivity, enhanced discrimination capability, and increased resistance to infrared countermeasures and electronic jamming. The missile offers an effective engagement range of approximately 6.5 km and can intercept targets at altitudes up to 4 km. Equipped with both impact and proximity fuzes and a modernized high-explosive fragmentation warhead, the system is designed to defeat small, maneuverable targets, including loitering munitions and low-signature drones that have reshaped modern battlefields.

Weighing roughly 16.5 kg in firing configuration, Piorun can be operated by a single soldier or mounted on light tactical vehicles and short-range air defense platforms. Its modular design allows integration into networked air defense architectures, providing flexibility for both territorial defense formations and expeditionary units. The system’s mobility and rapid deployment profile make it particularly suitable for protecting maneuver brigades, logistics hubs, and critical infrastructure against sudden low-altitude incursions.

Germany’s interest in Piorun MANPADS must be viewed within the broader context of Berlin’s ongoing reconfiguration of its air defense posture. Since the launch of its Zeitenwende policy, Germany has accelerated investments in advanced systems such as the Patriot and IRIS-T SLM to strengthen its medium- and long-range coverage. However, the resurgence of high-intensity warfare in Europe and the rapid proliferation of drones and cruise missiles have exposed persistent capability gaps at the very short-range level. Mobile, soldier-portable systems remain essential to provide the final protective layer for ground forces and sensitive sites, especially in scenarios where radar coverage is limited or saturation attacks occur.

Operational use in Ukraine has significantly elevated the Piorun’s profile. Since 2022, the system has reportedly demonstrated effectiveness against helicopters, close air support aircraft, and various unmanned threats in a contested environment characterized by heavy electronic warfare and countermeasure deployment. Its battlefield record has reinforced confidence among NATO planners seeking combat-proven and rapidly deployable solutions.

If the German request is formally confirmed and translated into a contract, Berlin would join a growing group of Piorun operators, including Belgium, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden, the United States, and Ukraine. The expansion of this user community would enhance interoperability within NATO, particularly along the Alliance’s eastern flank, where short-range air defense has become a strategic priority.

Beyond the purely operational dimension, a potential German acquisition carries notable industrial and political implications. For decades, Central and Eastern European countries were primarily defense importers from Western Europe and the United States. A German procurement decision would mark a reversal of traditional procurement flows within NATO, highlighting Poland’s emergence as a credible supplier of advanced air defense technologies. It could also open avenues for bilateral industrial cooperation, including maintenance frameworks, joint production arrangements, or future development of next-generation short-range interceptors under European defense initiatives.

The timing aligns with Poland’s broader defense expansion strategy. Warsaw has increased defense spending to historic levels and continues to modernize its armed forces with new armored platforms, artillery systems, combat aircraft, and layered air defense solutions. The Piorun stands out as one of the few fully indigenous Polish systems to achieve sustained export success, reinforcing the country’s ambition to position itself as a central defense industrial hub in Eastern Europe.

At a strategic moment when drone swarms, precision-guided munitions, and low-altitude strike capabilities are reshaping operational planning across Europe, very short-range air defense systems have regained decisive importance. Germany’s expressed interest in the Polish Piorun reflects both a practical military requirement and a broader shift in European defense dynamics. Should negotiations advance, the move would not only strengthen the Bundeswehr’s tactical air defense layer but also underscore a new balance of defense innovation and industrial cooperation within NATO.

Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.