Mariusz Błaszczak will hand over the equipment to the 18th Anti-Aircraft Regiment stationed in the southeastern city of Zamość, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
The ceremony will feature Britain’s Defence Secretary Ben Wallace.
Mała Narew short-range anti-aircraft system
Dubbed Mała Narew (Little Narew), the new short-range anti-aircraft system includes three iLauncher launchers, two transport-and-loading vehicles and the common anti-air modular missiles (CAMM), produced by British contractor MBDA UK, officials said.
Mała Narew is designed to provide cover for troops and facilities in the area of operations and to supplement the firepower of the medium-range Wisła (Vistula) anti-aircraft and anti-missile rocket systems, which are part of the national and allied anti-air defences, reporters were told.
In the first half of 2023, the Mała Narew system will also be supplied to Poland’s 15th Anti-aircraft Regiment, based in the northern city of Elbląg, according to officials.
Pilica very short range air-defence system
During the event in Zamość, Błaszczak, who is also a deputy prime minister, will additionally approve a contract for the purchase of 21 new batteries of the Pilica very short-range air-defence system, public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency reported.
Designed to combat aircraft, helicopters, drones and cruise missiles within a range of several kilometres, the Pilica system includes autocannons and the Grom (Lightning) man-portable air-defence system, according to officials.
The Pilica system is produced by ZM Tarnów, a state-run arms contractor based in southern Poland. The new batteries will also be equipped with the British CAMM missiles, the IAR news agency reported.
Tuesday’s handover of the Mała Narew system to the troops in Zamość is a further step in strengthening the Polish army amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which began on February 24, officials said.
(pm/gs)
Source: IAR, PAP, gov.pl