The partnership will explore combining Piorun MANPADS with the Protector family of remote weapon stations. Kongsberg and Mesko said the aim is to provide NATO and allied nations with mature and innovative options for complex and asymmetric operating environments.
Kongsberg said its Protector remote weapon station family is in service with 31 countries and that more than 25,000 systems have been delivered. The company described itself as a market leader in the production and development of remote weapon stations.
Mesko, part of Poland’s PGZ group, produces the combat-proven Piorun system. The company said Piorun is a European-produced portable surface-to-air capability used by multiple countries and has been employed successfully during operational deployments.
“Our partnership with Mesko allows us to combine the proven Piorun system with the Protector family, creating a scalable and fully interoperable solution that responds to modern air and land threats,” said Krystian Chmielewski, Senior Vice President Business Development, Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace.
“Close cooperation with the Polish defence industry is a key element in building sustainable competencies and supply chains in Poland and Europe, and Kongsberg is proud to have such a reliable and experienced partner,” Chmielewski added. “Integrating the Piorun missile as an additional effector in Protector RWS systems significantly expands the range of applications for our remotely controlled weapon stations.”
“The strength and popularity of the Piorun MANPADS is its effectiveness and simplicity of use,” said Marcin Ożóg, a board member of Mesko S.A. “Collaboration with Kongsberg creates opportunities to broaden the scope of Piorun systems’ capabilities, which will certainly be an additional advantage for armies interested in acquiring this or similar weapon systems.”
“We are pleased that together we can create and expand the production capabilities of strategic products on international markets,” Ożóg added. “Collaborations like this prove that companies appreciate the high quality and class of our equipment.”
“We are learning cooperation and partnership, and the exchange of experiences develops creativity,” said Krzysztof Marwicki, a member of the board of Mesko S.A. “The cooperation of companies such as Norwegian Kongsberg and Polish Mesko S.A. is a guarantee of the highest quality and credibility.”
Kongsberg and Mesko have worked together since early 2023. The companies have presented the Protector RS6 with integrated dual Piorun missiles as a potential configuration for European and international customers.
The companies said the combined system could serve as a flexible and mobile kinetic counter-uncrewed aircraft system or air defence capability. It is intended to provide self-protection and engage aerial threats including mini drones through Class III drones in contested environments.
