Lithuania, Poland, and a pair of unnamed European countries have sought European Union funding for the joint procurement of Piorun short-range air defense systems.
The man-portable system is being procured under the European defense industry reinforcement through common procurement act.
It is the intended replacement of Lithuania’s Grom air defense systems, most of which would be transferred to Ukraine, Baltic Times wrote, citing Lithuanian Defense Minister Laurynas Kasciunas.
“They will have to be replaced by more modern systems, namely Piorun, which is very much in line with our entire defense planning,” the minister said.
Additionally, Lithuania plans to establish a national division armed with the system to better protect critical infrastructure.
The Piorun
The Polish Armaments Group system can strike drones as well as fixed and rotary-winged aircraft at a maximum range of 6.5 kilometers (4 miles) and an altitude of 4 kilometers (2.48 miles).
It can reach a speed of 2,400 kilometers (1,500 miles) per hour, using an infrared homing seeker to draw near the target.
Ukraine has deployed the system in its ongoing war, knocking out a Russian Su-25 aircraft.
Estonia received the system in January this year while it is already operational in Latvia, Slovakia, and the US.
