PPZR Piorun is a Polish shoulder-fired infrared air-defense missile system produced by MESKO as the modernized Grom-family successor. Poland approved Piorun deliveries to Ukraine in February 2022, and Ukrainian National Guard units later reported using the system against Russian aircraft around Bakhmut, making it one of the catalog's directly documented short-range air-defense transfers in the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War.
Poland approved Piorun MANPADS and ammunition for Ukraine in February 2022; Defence24 later reported Ukrainian National Guard use of Piorun near Bakhmut, including a February 2023 Su-24M shootdown claim and earlier Piorun-equipped unit activity against Russian aircraft.
Role detailsOpen reporting gives two different evidence layers for Ukraine: first, Poland's pre-invasion approval of Piorun deliveries to the Ukrainian Armed Forces; second, later frontline reporting that identifies Piorun use by Ukrainian National Guard air-defense teams near Bakhmut. The compact conflict row therefore treats Piorun as both foreign military aid and a directly reported short-range air-defense weapon in Ukrainian service.
Piorun keeps the Grom-family shoulder-fired role but adds a more capable engagement package for low-altitude threats. MESKO describes the system as fitted with a proximity fuze, a modernized launch mechanism, day and thermal sight options, Friend or Foe inquiry, target and weather-mode selection, and authorization-system compatibility.
Aircraft, helicopters, UAVs, and winged rockets inside the system's short-range envelope.
Mode selection, sight communication, Friend or Foe inquiry, and optional authorization support.
Fragmentation high-explosive warhead with proximity-fuze support for near misses.
Piorun is the production name for the Grom-M modernization path rather than a separate missile family unrelated to Grom.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
 | Baseline predecessor system | Piorun is described as the successor and deep modernization of Grom, with changes to the seeker, launch mechanism, fuzing, and sighting options. Sources: Defense News Poland Air-Defense Aid, Defence24 3000 Piorun Delivered |
| Grom-M | Development and alternate designation | Defense Express reported that Piorun was presented publicly as Grom-M during MSPO 2015 before entering the Polish procurement and export pipeline. Sources: Defense Express Piorun to Ukraine |
Defence24 describes Piorun as developed through a research project launched in 2010 with MESKO, CRW Telesystem-Mesko, and the Military University of Technology.
Sources: Defence24 3000 Piorun Delivered
Defense Express reported that the modernized system was publicly presented at MSPO 2015 under the Grom-M name.
Sources: Defense Express Piorun to Ukraine
Defense News reported that Poland's Ministry of National Defence ordered Piorun systems from MESKO under a December 2016 contract.
Sources: Defense News Poland Air-Defense Aid
Polish officials announced government approval for Piorun MANPADS and ammunition deliveries to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Sources: Defense News Poland Air-Defense Aid, Defense Express Piorun to Ukraine
Defence24 reported that a Ukrainian National Guard team used Piorun near Bakhmut against a Russian Su-24M during the fighting in February 2023.
Sources: Defence24 Piorun at Bakhmut
Defence24 reported that MESKO had delivered the 3,000th Piorun system and linked wartime demand to expanded production activity.
Sources: Defence24 3000 Piorun Delivered
