On September 5, 2023, during the MSPO-2023 defense and industrial exhibition that opened in Kielce (Poland), Polish Minister of National Defense Mariusz Blaszczak approved contracts with the Polish consortium PGZ-Narew to supply the Polish Army with the main elements of the promising short- and medium-range air defense system Narew in accordance with the framework agreement of 2021. The first contract provides for the supply of 138 iLauncher self-propelled launchers for 46 Narew anti-aircraft missile systems (three launchers each) and, accordingly, 23 batteries (two SAMs each). The second is that the contract provides for the supply of "more than 1000" MBDA CAMM-ER medium-range anti-aircraft guided missiles and additional equipment for these SAMs, along with technology transfer. Deliveries are planned from 2027 to 2035.
Serial self-propelled iLauncher launcher of MBDA CAMM anti-aircraft guided missiles on the chassis of the Polish military vehicle Jelcz P882.57 (8x8) in execution for the Polish Narew anti-aircraft missile system (Mala Narew variant) at the exposition of the MSPO-2023 defense industrial exhibition in Kielce (Poland), 05.09.2023 (c) Adam Świerkowski / Defence24
The PGZ-Narew consortium, headed by the Polish state Defense Industry association Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ), includes enterprises ZM Tarnów, PIT-Radwar, PCO, Jelcz, Mesko, WZU and WZE. The actual developer and manufacturer of iLauncher launchers and CAMM-ER missiles is the British branch of the European Missile association MBDA (MBDA UK), with which the PGZ-Narew consortium should conclude an agreement on the wide localization of iLauncher launchers and CAMM-ER missiles, their joint production at their enterprises and delivery to the Ministry of National Defense of Poland. In particular, iLauncher launchers and other elements of the SAM should be made on the chassis of Polish military vehicles Jelcz P882.57 (8×8).
These signed contracts do not include the supply of radars, command posts and a number of other elements of the Narew air defense system, which must be completely Polish-designed and manufactured and separate contracts for the supply of which are planned to be concluded in the future. In the Polish version of Narew, each complex includes three self-propelled eight-container vertical iLaunchers launchers with SAMM missiles, three transport-loading vehicles, a promising Polish radar Sajna c AFAR and a command post (also of Polish design). Each launcher is also equipped with an electron-optical station on a lifting mast for detecting aerial targets in autonomous or passive modes. All elements are installed on the chassis of Polish military vehicles Jelcz P882.57 (8×8), except for the radar complex, which must be carried out on the Polish armored chassis Żubr-P (4x4).
The total cost of the Narew air defense procurement program is estimated from 30 to 60 billion zlotys (from 7.5 to 15 billion dollars). These SAMM-series missiles should also be used as part of the Sea Ceptor naval air defense system on three Miecznik frigates planned for construction for the Polish Navy.
Recall that in November 2021, the Polish Ministry of National Defense selected the anti-aircraft missile system presented by MBDA UK based on CAMM anti-aircraft guided missiles (a variant of the British Sky Sabre complex ) and their longer-range CAMM-ER variant as the basis for the Polish Narew program for the purchase of promising short- and medium-range air defense systems. The CAMM (Common Anti-air Modular Missile) base missiles are actually a variant of the AIM-132 ASRAAM short-range air-to-air missile, but with the replacement of the infrared homing head with an active radar and with the introduction of radio correction via a two-channel datalink. SAMM missiles have a firing range of up to 25 km (missile mass 99 kg), and their medium-range variant CAMM-ER - up to 45 km (missile mass 166 kg).
In November 2021, a corresponding intergovernmental agreement was signed by the Ministers of Defense of Great Britain and Poland, and in April 2022, the PGZ-Narew consortium signed a contract with MBDA UK in the amount of 1.65 billion zlotys ($400 million) for the purchase of the first two sets of ground-based short-range anti-aircraft missile systems for the Polish armed forces in a "transitional configuration" with short-range SAMM missiles (that is, a total of a set of one battery, including two complexes). In Poland, these complexes with SAMM missiles and the Polish Sola-M fire detection and control radar are called Mala Narew ("Small Narew"). Both complexes were delivered to Poland already in October 2022 and in early 2023.
In addition, in April 2023, the Armaments Agency of the Ministry of National Defense of Poland signed a contract directly with MBDA UK in the amount of 1.9 billion pounds (about 10 billion zlotys) for the purchase of 44 iLauncher launchers and "several hundred" CAMM short-range anti-aircraft guided missiles for subsequent integration into the composition of 22 combined anti-aircraft missiles purchased for the Polish Army Pilica+ rocket and cannon complexes. SAMM deliveries for them are planned for 2025-2029. The Pilica+ anti-aircraft missile system combines two iLauncher launchers with SAMM anti-aircraft guided missiles and six upgraded 23-mm twin-mounted ZUR-23-2KG Jodek-G anti-aircraft artillery systems (based on the licensed ZU-23) with two-shot anti-aircraft guided missile launchers of the Polish portable air defense system placed on them Grom/Piorun, united by a common fire control system, including the Bistra c AFAR air target detection radar. The ZUR-23-2KG Jodek-G units on wheeled carriages are transported in the back of a military truck Jelcz 442.32 (4x4) of Polish production.
The total value of the contracts signed on September 5, 2023 for the purchase of Patriot PAC-3 + and Narew air defense systems has not been disclosed, but according to a number of Polish media reports, it reaches 100 billion zlotys ($23.9 billion). These acquisitions will make Poland the owner of the most powerful and modern air defense system among the European NATO countries.
Serial self-propelled iLauncher launcher of MBDA CAMM anti-aircraft guided missiles on the chassis of the Polish military vehicle Jelcz P882.57 (8x8) in execution for the Polish Narew anti-aircraft missile system (Mala Narew variant) at the exposition of the defense industrial exhibition MSPO-2023 in Kielce (Poland), 05.09.2023 (c) Leszek Chemperek / Ministry of National Defense Poland
