MSPO 2024: Mesko to prioritize foreign market demands for its new Jack-S anti-tank missile.

At MSPO 2024, the Polish company Mesko presented its new anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) system, the Jack-S. This system, developed from the earlier PIRAT system, is designed to meet the specific needs of foreign customers. The Jack-S, already in production, is capable of engaging both moving and stationary ground targets, as well as low-flying or hovering air targets. It features automatic target tracking and guidance via a laser target designator.
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After completing the development of the PIRAT anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) system, Mesko continued refining its design in response to interest from potential foreign clients, resulting in the creation of the Jack-S. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

The Jack-S is based on the PIRAT anti-tank guided missile system, which Mesko completed developing in 2020 under an agreement with the Industrial Development Agency (ARP). After the completion of the PIRAT's development, Mesko continued to refine its design due to interest from potential foreign clients. This led to the decision in 2023 to create an export-oriented version of the PIRAT, named the Jack-S, incorporating additional modifications to both the missile and launcher components.

The Jack-S was developed in response to requirements discussed with foreign partners, whose needs differ from those of the Polish market. According to Elżbieta Śreniawska, CEO of Mesko S.A., the increase in exports over the past two years reflects the company's alignment with new markets. This understanding enabled Mesko to develop the Jack-S to meet the specific requirements of international clients. The Jack-S made its international debut at the Eurosatory 2024 trade fair in Paris, where it drew attention from various government delegations.

The Jack-S is capable of engaging moving targets at speeds of up to 50 km/h, regardless of direction. It can also be integrated into various vehicles, such as armored personnel carriers, infantry fighting vehicles, light reconnaissance vehicles, boats, and unmanned ground vehicles like the Perun.

The design changes introduced in the Jack-S are expected to streamline production, enabling Mesko to increase output if orders are received. Some of these new solutions may also be applied to the PIRAT in the future. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

While the Jack-S retains several core specifications of the PIRAT, it also introduces notable changes. The system weighs 15.5 kg, slightly more than the PIRAT's 15.2 kg, and has an operational range of 200 to 2,600 meters, with an armor penetration capability of 500 mm of rolled homogeneous armor (RHA) using a high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warhead. The container for the 107 mm caliber missile is slightly longer, measuring 1,215 mm compared to the PIRAT's 1,180 mm.

One of the most significant changes in the Jack-S is a new concept for initiating the missile's fuze. This modification requires extensive field testing to confirm its effectiveness and safety. Upon verification, additional tests will evaluate the new design's advantages.

Marcin Ożóg, a board member responsible for production at Mesko S.A., indicated that the Jack-S design builds on the company's experience in missile development and production, including lessons from the PIRAT project. He also noted a focus on optimizing production costs by utilizing existing facilities and technologies and incorporating approaches from American and European partners.

The design changes introduced in the Jack-S are expected to streamline production, allowing Mesko to increase output if orders are received. Some of these new solutions may also be applied to the PIRAT in the future. Given the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, production capabilities are considered as crucial as technical specifications, with current ammunition shortages highlighting the need for production levels beyond those typically maintained during peacetime.