Belgium will receive its first delivery of forty portable air defence systems from Poland this year, says Defence Minister Theo Francken.
Francken mentioned on social media that the military has been waiting for such systems for fifteen years. In May, he and his Polish counterpart, Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, signed a declaration of intent to enhance military cooperation between Belgium and Poland, which includes the purchase of two to three hundred sets of the portable Piorun air defence system.
On Tuesday, Francken stated on social media that the purchase process is on schedule. He signed the budget request for these systems, submitted to Budget Minister Vincent Van Peteghem, on Monday. “The first systems will arrive this year,” said Francken.
The minister explained that the Polish air defence system can protect airspace from larger drones, attack helicopters, and low-flying aircraft. While soldiers can carry it, the system is often mounted on vehicles. This year, forty Piorun systems, accompanied by hundreds of missiles worth €137 million, are expected to arrive. “Our elite Special Operations Regiment troops have been waiting for this for 15 years.”
Francken further noted that the Piorun has delivered “impressive results” in Ukraine. “This purchase symbolises both effective European defence cooperation and the earnest approach we are now taking towards our defence,” he concluded.
