New investments at CRW Telesystem-Mesko drive the development of the Piorun system

Jędrzej Graf, Defence24.pl: Since January, you have held the position of President of the Management Board of CRW Telesystem-Mesko. What are the pillars of the new management’s vision for the company’s development?

Sylwia Puzewicz, President of the Management Board of CRW Telesystem-Mesko: Assuming the role of President of the Management Board of CRW Telesystem-Mesko is a great responsibility for me, but also a major opportunity for the company’s further growth. Our vision is to strengthen the company’s position as one of the key entities in the field of advanced technologies for the defence sector, both on the domestic and international markets.

Telesystem will never forget its founder, Professor Zbigniew Puzewicz. Not only was my father was not the company creator, but he also was a visionary who recognised the immense potential of developing advanced technologies for national defence needs. Thanks to his knowledge, experience and determination, technological solutions were created that became the foundation of the company’s operations. I would only note that the Professor was one of the pioneers of laser and optoelectronic technologies in Poland. The research and design work of the teams he led contributed to the development of numerous innovative systems supporting armaments and security. Importantly, he was able to combine scientific activity with the practical application of research results in industry. Thanks to him, CRW became a modern organisation capable of effectively transferring research outcomes to the defence industry.     

How important is cooperation with academia for Telesystem today?

We intend to closely cooperate with the Military University of Technology and Gdańsk University of Technology. The Professor was a graduate of Gdańsk University of Technology, where he received the engineering education that became the foundation of his further research and academic work. However, he associated the key stage of his scientific career with the Military University of Technology in Warsaw. There, he conducted numerous research projects in the fields of microwave electronics and laser technologies, contributing to the development of modern and unique technological solutions. He organised and led research teams in quantum electronics for many years, which played a significant role in the development of Polish laser technologies.   

My father’s legacy will remain present in Telesystem’s operations. His approach to innovation, cooperation with the scientific community and the consistent development of in-house technological competences constitute an important reference point for the company’s further growth. We want to promote this approach among students and within the academic environment. We intend to announce a competition for students for the best project in the fields of laser technologies, optoelectronics and AI.  

What are the key priorities of the company’s management in the short and long term?

We are focusing primarily on increasing operational efficiency, strengthening cooperation with industrial partners and implementing ongoing research and development projects. Maintaining the highest quality of our products and services is also very important to us, as is developing the competences of our team, which is the company’s greatest asset.

Where does Telesystem see its place on the domestic and European markets in the field of optoelectronics and precision effectors?

Our ambition is to strengthen the company’s position as one of the key centres of competence in Poland in the field of optoelectronics and precision effectors, as well as to gradually increase our visibility and participation in projects carried out on the European market. We want to be perceived as a reliable technological partner delivering modern, proven and competitive solutions for the defence sector.

On the domestic market, our goal is to further develop cooperation within the Polish defence industry. In particular, we aim to be a strong and reliable partner for Mesko S.A. in Skarżysko-Kamienna and other companies within the PGZ Group. We also intend to continue investing in the development of our own technologies and competences in optoelectronic systems, guidance systems and precision effectors. 

I would like to ask about the investment priorities of the new management. What is the status of the project to build a new CRW facility? What capabilities will it bring and in which directions will Telesystem’s offering evolve? 

The construction of a new CRW HQ is one of our most important investment projects. The project is in its final stage of implementation. The facility will significantly increase the company’s capabilities in the design, testing and production of advanced electronic and optoelectronic systems. 

The new infrastructure is valued at approximately PLN 150 million. The investment includes both the new building and its equipment and machinery. All of this will significantly accelerate production of the Piorun system and enable the expansion of competences in system integration, precision electronics assembly and the launch of new production lines. As a result, the company will increase the scale of its projects, shorten the time required to implement new solutions and respond even more effectively to the growing needs of its main partner – Mesko S.A.  

At the same time, new solutions for the Polish Armed Forces are being developed, including a laser communication project and work on the miniaturisation of target designators.

What about the development of the Piorun MANPADS? On the one hand, there is evolution and production capacity; on the other, the new Piorun 2 project.

The development of the Piorun system is one of the key areas of our activity and remains a very important element of the company’s strategy. We have adopted a dual-path approach. On the one hand, we are focusing on further improving the current version of the system so that it meets changing user requirements and reflects operational experience. This includes both technological development of individual components and increasing production capacity to meet growing demand.  

Maintaining continuity of development is important to us – so that the ongoing production and modernisation of the proven Piorun system goes hand in hand with work on its successor. This will allow us to maintain the high competitiveness of our solutions and ensure their long-term development both on the domestic and international markets.

The Piorun is now used in combat and its user base is expanding. Which capabilities are currently considered most important for future versions of the system? Is it range, resistance to jamming, counter-drone capability, or another parameter? 

The development of future versions of the Piorun system is closely linked to the analysis of the modern battlefield and user experience. Key areas of development include further improvement of guidance algorithms as well as the modernisation of the control unit. I would like to emphasise that work on Piorun 2 is being conducted in close cooperation with Mesko S.A. 

I would add that engaging drones with Piorun only makes economic sense in one situation – not for mass use, but as an emergency option when no other means of defence are available. Piorun is the last line of defence for high-value assets such as airports, buildings, radars, missile launchers, or protection against intelligence-gathering activities.

Telesystem has also developed guidance systems for laser-guided precision munitions – APR 155 and APR 120. What are the current development plans for these systems and how do they fit into the company’s strategy?

At the outset, I would like to note that laser-guided precision munitions are widely used in current armed conflicts. Over 85% of strike footage published by the United States during the war in Iran shows laser designation markers on targets and the surgical precision of laser-guided bombs and missiles.

Meanwhile, Russian sources show the mass use of 152 mm artillery ammunition using the same type of guidance system. Laser-guided munitions have many advantages: they are relatively inexpensive, offer a level of accuracy (on the order of half a metre) unattainable for other guidance methods, allow engagement of moving targets and are difficult to jam. Their effective use requires only target designation, which can be provided by a wide range of assets – from small, inexpensive drones, through ground-based systems, to F-35A and F-16/FA-50PL aircraft equipped with targeting pods. 

APR 155 mm, offered by Mesko S.A. under the Szczerbiec programme together with our guidance system, will be a valuable addition. It can serve as a first step, followed by the APR 120 mm for Rak mortars. However, the developed guidance system can be used to create an entire family of precision munitions – not only artillery but also air-delivered. It should be emphasised that leading NATO countries, such as the United States and Turkey, are investing in laser-guided munitions for both artillery and aviation. We have the full potential to produce such weapons domestically.  

The Pirat anti-tank guided missile also uses a laser guidance system.

The Pirat missile uses the same guidance system as precision munitions, allowing the same laser designation assets to be used interchangeably. It is flexible and shares all the advantages of laser-guided munitions, including low cost. Pirat is not a competitor to anti-tank guided missiles such as Javelin or Spike. It is a system designed to engage lightly armoured targets at a range of up to 2,500 metres.  

In terms of range and precision, it significantly outperforms, among others, the Carl Gustaf recoilless rifle, while remaining far less expensive than the aforementioned ATGMs.

Pirat makes it possible to fill the gap between grenade launchers and heavy ATGMs. It can be used on a large scale against both combat vehicles and other targets.

The key advantage of the Pirat ATGM is that it is a Polish product and can be further developed.

Last year, CRW Telesystem-Mesko established cooperation with CONTROP. How does this respond to the demand for equipment and capabilities observed in Poland?

The strategic cooperation we have established with the Israeli company CONTROP covers advanced optoelectronic solutions that Telesystem can integrate with command and control (C2) systems. These are intended not only for the Polish Armed Forces but also for other state services, particularly the Border Guard. CONTROP’s intelligent optoelectronic systems enable not only observation at distances of up to 100 km but also the identification and classification of detected objects, with the transmission of this data to higher command levels. 

This allows for an incremental change increase in situational awareness, even with respect to objects located at significant distances from optoelectronic sensors. These solutions may find important applications in the „electronic” component of the Eastern Shield programme. Systems offered in cooperation with CONTROP could form part of an early warning system against illegal border crossings, sabotage, and also provide early warning of typically military threats. 

Which specific systems could be included in the Eastern Shield programme? It is a priority programme with a short implementation timeline.

We are already ready to conduct field demonstrations of two complementary systems for optoelectronic surveillance. The first is T-Sight, a medium-range system using the Sight-25D sensor suite. Its advantage lies in combining high performance with rapid deployment and vehicle integration. We can also present long-range systems such as SPEED LR and SPEED-ER, enabling observation and surveillance of large areas, including counter-UAS operations.  

Both systems are integrated with algorithms for object identification and classification and are capable of direct cooperation with command and control (C2) systems. Invitations to participate in demonstrations have already been sent to the relevant uniformed services. We remain ready to conduct demonstrations at a convenient time and are awaiting confirmation of interest. 

Recently, there has been discussion about the use of European Union funds for defence capabilities. To what extent can the SAFE instrument and other European programmes become a real driver of development for CRW Telesystem-Mesko?

European instruments such as SAFE and other programmes supporting the development of defence capabilities within the European Union can become a significant development impulse for companies such as CRW Telesystem-Mesko. They provide opportunities to participate in large international research and development projects and facilitate the building of lasting technological partnerships between companies and research institutions from different countries.

From our perspective, this is an opportunity both to develop new technologies and to increase the presence of Polish solutions in the European defence-industrial ecosystem. Participation in such initiatives also enables the exchange of experience, access to new competences and the scaling up of projects that would be much more difficult for a single company to undertake independently.

However, for Polish solutions to gain broader recognition in European projects, several conditions must be met.

What conditions are we talking about?

A consistent policy supporting domestic technological competences is essential, along with stable funding for research and development projects to maintain a high level of innovation.

 It is also important to ensure proper coordination between industry, public administration and research institutions so that Polish solutions are promoted coherently within European initiatives.

Equally important is the building of strong international consortia in which Polish entities play not only the role of contractors but also that of technological partners co-responsible for the development of key components.

From the perspective of CRW Telesystem-Mesko, we want to actively participate in such programmes and develop cooperation with European partners. However, our most important partners will always remain companies within the PGZ Group.

Thank you for this conversation.