Polish Anti-Aircraft Systems In Ukraine Cross-Section
Since February 2022 Poland has been delivering anti-aircraft systems of various capabilities and ranges to Ukraine. These systems include Piorun MANPADS, ZSU-23 Anti-Aircraft guns, 9K33M3 Osa-AKM, and S-60 Anti-Aircraft guns have also recently been announced. The weapon systems are plentiful but what is their effectiveness in action? Let’s take a closer look.
PZPR “Piorun”
The first Piorun MANPADS were delivered shortly before the Russian Invasion of Ukraine began. These short-range anti-aircraft missiles were developed from the PZPR Grom, a platform that was created on the basis of Strela-2 and Igla-1. Piorun is a basis for the Polish VSHORAD system “Poprad”. The newest Polish missiles have proved themselves already with large quantities being used on the Ukrainian battlefields against drones, helicopters, and low-flying attack jets. Without a doubt, this is the most sophisticated anti-aircraft system Poland has provided to Ukraine since the beginning of the war.
9K33M3 Osa-AKM
Polish Armed Forces operated an estimated 64 TELARs of the Osa system in several different variants. With a recent order for CAMM missiles under the “Narew” procurement program, the post-Soviet equipment will be sold or donated abroad. Some of the systems have already found their way to Ukraine. In late 2022 footage of ex-Polish Osa-AKM systems shooting down Russian drones was published on social media. It is unknown how many 9K33M3s were sent to Ukraine by Poland, but the numbers are unlikely to be high. With the limited supply of ammunition, it is rather certain that successes of Polish Osa launchers are limited in extent.
ZU-23 & Hibernyt SPAA
An undisclosed number of domestically produced ZU-23 AA guns and some Hibernyt Self-Propelled Anti Aircraft systems utilizing ZU-23s were also sent to Ukraine as part of military assistance. The pictografical evidence is scare yet, nonetheless, some of the guns definitely found their way to Ukraine, according to several claims by state officials.
S-60
The latest donation from Poland for Ukrainian Armed Forces are ex-Soviet 57mm S-60 anti-aircraft guns. Polish S-60s were adapted to work with domestically produced radars and automated targeting systems, yet the guns themselves were relatively outdated. With the amount of more modern ZU-23 AA guns still produced by Zakłady Mechaniczne in Tarnów (ZMT), a decision was made to transfer at least some of the 57mm autocannons still in Polish inventory.