Finance
Germany shows interest in Polish air-defense system, says deputy defence minister
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 13, 2026
2 min readLast updated: February 13, 2026
Quick Summary
Germany shows interest in Poland's Piorun air-defense system, highlighting Polish defense innovation and export potential amid regional tensions.
Germany Expresses Interest in Poland's Piorun Air-Defense System
Germany's Interest in Polish Defense Innovations
WARSAW, Feb 13 (Reuters) - Germany is interested in purchasing the Polish-made Piorun man-portable anti-aircraft system, Polish Deputy Defense Minister Cezary Tomczyk said on Friday.
Poland's Defense Funding Plans
"Germany has expressed a preliminary interest in purchasing the Piorun and we should be proud of this, as it shows how innovations in the Polish defence industry influence how we are perceived in the world and the interests of our country," Deputy Minister Cezary Tomczyk said during a press conference.
Potential for Arms Exports
A spokesperson for the German Defence Ministry declined to comment.
EU SAFE Program Involvement
Poland plans to allocate substantial defence funding, directing resources both to foreign arms purchases and to expanding its domestic weapons industry.
In light of what Warsaw says is the continued threat posed by Russia's war against Ukraine, about 200 billion zlotys ($56 billion) - roughly 5% of GDP - has been earmarked for these efforts this year.
Warsaw also hopes to export arms to other countries.
"I am convinced that not only the Piorun, but also many other products, could be exported in the future," Tomczyk added, without providing any further details about Germany's interest.
Also on Friday, the Polish parliament passed a special law enabling access to the EU SAFE program, worth 43.7 billion euros in low-interest loans, with around 80% of the amount directed to the domestic defence sector.
The Piorun system is manufactured at the Mesko and Jelcz plants of the Polish Armaments Group. These systems are used to combat low-altitude air targets and are used, among others, by the Ukrainian army.
Last year, Sweden announced its plans to purchase this system, with the contract valued at over $320 million.
($1 = 3.5527 zlotys)
(Reporting by Pawel Florkiewicz, Anna Wlodarczak-Semczuk, Barbara Erling, additional reporting by James Mackenzie in Berlin; Editing by Toby Chopra)
Key Takeaways
- •Germany is interested in the Polish Piorun air-defense system.
- •Poland plans significant defense funding amid regional threats.
- •The Piorun system is manufactured by the Polish Armaments Group.
- •Poland aims to export more defense products globally.
- •The EU SAFE program supports Poland's defense sector.
Frequently Asked Questions about Germany shows interest in Polish air-defense system, says deputy defence minister
1What is the Piorun Air-Defense System?
The Piorun Air-Defense System is a Polish-made man-portable anti-aircraft system designed to combat low-altitude air targets, utilized by military forces, including the Ukrainian army.
2What are arms exports?
Arms exports are the sale of military weapons and equipment to foreign countries, often regulated by national and international laws to prevent misuse and promote security.
3What is the EU SAFE program?
The EU SAFE program is an initiative that provides low-interest loans to member states for defense and security projects, aimed at enhancing the capabilities of the domestic defense sector.
