More Poprad VSHORAD Systems Received by the Polish Military
PIT-RADWAR S.A. has sent another batch of the Poprad SPZR self-propelled SAM systems to the 15th “Giżycka” Mechanized Brigade. The air defence squadron of that unit is currently receiving the new assets, the Polish Ministry of Defence announced.
Another two vehicles fitted with Piorun/Grom MANPADS launchers have left the manufacturing facility in Warsaw. Earlier on, namely in mid-April, three vehicles as such have been received by the 15th “Giżycka” Mechanized Brigade. Poprads are delivered on time, in line with the schedule adopted for the year 2020. As stressed by the MoD, the deliveries have been unaffected by the pandemic so far. According to the plan made, the squadron is to receive nine vehicles as such in total.
It is expected that 24 vehicles armed with such launchers are delivered this year, out of 77 series-manufactured examples ordered in December 2015. The agreement came with a price tag of PLN 1.083 billion (along with two prototypes of the “implementation” lot, ordered within the framework of a separate agreement).
The series manufactured Poprad systems have now been delivered to the Polish military since June 2018. Until the end of 2019, the air defence elements of the Army have received 36 systems as such in total. They have been received by anti-aircraft regiments of three divisions (the fourth one, namely the 18th Mechanized Division, is being formed now, along with an organic anti-aircraft regiment embedded within it). The Poprad systems have been already received by the 4th “Zielonogórski” Anti-Aircraft Regiment (11th “Lubuska” Armoured Cavalry Division), 8th “Koszaliński” Anti-Aircraft Regiment (12th “Szczecińska” Mechanized Division), and 15th “Godłapski” Anti-Aircraft Regiment (16th “Pomorska” Mechanized Division). Systems as such are also being introduced into the inventory of some batteries of the anti-aircraft squadrons of the general military brigades.
Poprad is a VSHORAD SAM system that is destined to become a part of the lowest layer of the IA/MDS. Poprad has been designed to detect, recognize, and destroy airborne targets at close distances and low altitudes with the use of short-range anti-aircraft missiles. The system is armed with 4 Grom or modernized Piorun VSHORAD missiles. The missiles are placed on a column mount installed within the cargo compartment of a Żubr vehicle that is extended when in a combat setting.
The Poprad systems have been fitted with optronic sensors, an auto tracker system, an IFF system, and an advanced drive system for the tracking/targeting unit designed by the Polish military and allowing for a rapid and precise target interception.