Piorun MANPADS for Moldova and Other Exports of Polish Arms in 2024 [REPORT]
Photo. Mesko
Initial data on Polish arms exports in 2024 are now known. They have been submitted to the UN register. However, we must still wait for the more detailed annual reports published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Since 2022, Poland has consistently not disclosed figures for equipment gifted to Ukraine. Only data on commercial sales by trading entities are published.
In 2024, the Polish defence industry and arms‑trade intermediaries exported:
- 295 armored fighting vehicles of various types to Ukraine;
- 18 self‑propelled 155 mm Krab howitzers to Ukraine;
- 78 self‑propelled 122 mm 2S1 Gvozdika howitzers to Ukraine;
- 10 towed 85 mm D‑44M anti‑tank guns to Ukraine;
- 10 S‑70i helicopters to the Philippines;
- 3 S‑70i helicopters to the USA;
- 67 Piorun missiles to Estonia;
- 12 Piorun missiles to Latvia;
- 44 Piorun missiles to Moldova;
- 40 Piorun missiles to Norway.
Most likely, in the case of the Piorun, this refers to the number of missiles sold. It is not clear though whether it includes only the launch units, the total of missiles plus launchers, or the number of complete sets. Mesko typically offers one launcher and two missiles per set, but clients may purchase in different configurations: for example, missiles only, to replenish stocks if they already have functioning launchers.
Assuming these numbers refer to missiles, in 2022–2024 Mesko exported:
- 110 Piorun missiles to Norway;
- 96 Piorun missiles to Latvia;
- 84 Piorun missiles to Estonia;
- 44 Piorun missiles to Moldova;
- 34 Piorun missiles to Ukraine;
- 23 Piorun missiles to the USA.
In addition, an unspecified number of Piorun missiles were donated to Ukraine.
As you can see, Moldova joined the ranks of users of the shoulder‑launched Piorun anti‑aircraft systems in 2024.
On 12 January 2024, Mesko signed a contract with Georgia for the sale of unspecified anti‑aircraft missiles, presumably Pioruns. It appears that deliveries had not begun by the end of 2024.
So far, the exact types of the 295 armored fighting vehicles sold to Ukraine are unknown, but a significant portion are certainly Oncilla vehicles.
Huta Stalowa Wola sold 18 Krab self-propelled howitzers to Ukraine in 2024, the same number as in 54. Poland had donated another 54 Krabs to Ukraine in 2022. HSW’s actual production capacity in 2022–2024 stood at 18 Krabs per year. For 2025, the plant plans to deliver 32 Krabs to the Polish Armed Forces; their production has been ongoing since last year.
Also counted in Polish arms exports are S‑70i helicopters produced at PZL‑Mielec. Contracts for their sale are concluded by this factory, which is based in Poland. The capital ownership of the plant is irrelevant in this context.
Altogether, in 2011–2024 Poland declared exports of 94 helicopters from PZL‑Mielec, including:
- 50 to USA;
- 26 to the Philippines;
- 6 to Turkey;
- 6 to Chile;
- 5 to Thailand;
- 1 to Brunei.
The above figures cover weapons exports only in the major categories and are not representative of the entire scope of Polish arms exports. The true value will only be known when the MFA’s full report is published this autumn.
