The rocket will gain more range, become more maneuverable, and get a fresh warhead – it is only part of the changes that will pass the portable anti-aircraft rocket set Lightning. Mesko SA is presently working on a fresh version of its flagship strategy to combat air purposes. The first effects of the work can be seen at the global Defence manufacture Salon.
Lightning 2 getting closer to PPZR Lightning 2, global Defence manufacture Salon, 2025.
Portable anti-aircraft rocket set Lightning is 1 of the flagship products of Mesko SA. Launched from a manual launcher, the projectile is utilized to combat air targets 6.5 kilometres distant and moving at an altitude of 10 to 4 1000 metres. It effectively offends aircraft, helicopters and drones, as Ukrainian army operators fighting against Russian aggressor have learned. Polish systems are besides utilized by soldiers of respective another countries, for example Latvia, Norway or Slovakia.
Today, Mesko releases 1,000 launchers a year, making them the largest maker of specified weapons among NATO states. For comparison, the US arms manufacture produces 720 Stingers over the year. In turn, French factories leave around 480 Mistrals at the same time. That's enough. Lightning production is constantly growing. This year it should scope the level of 1,200 copies.
Production: Łukasz Zalesinski, Aleksander Kruk
Meanwhile, the company is working intensively on the successor of the set. The preliminary effects of the work can be seen at the manufacturer's stand in 1 of the halls of the global Defence manufacture Salon, where it was presented Working model of Lightning 2. The Mesko announces that thanks to the fresh solutions the projectile will have greater reach, become more maneuverable and resistant to alleged thermal traps. The fresh tracking head will let the operator to detect the mark with more precision than ever. In turn, an additional thermal sight will let him to usage the set effectively besides at night.
The rocket will besides be equipped with a proximity detector, which allows the mark to be struck even if it passes. We're besides working on a fresh warhead. We plan to apply the solution referred to as forced fragmentation – explains Zbigniew Dragik, manager of the Mesko SA Rocket Division. The regulation is simple. At the tallness indicated, the head breaks down, generating shrapnels of a pre-defined size. “This will enable us to harm the mark more effectively,” Drabik points out. At the moment, Mesko is investigating 3 variants of this kind of head. They contain tungsten balls, peculiar rollers and rods, respectively. “This version, which will prove to be the most effective, will be presented to the Armed Forces Agency as a proposal to be applied in Lightning 2,” the manager announced.
We're already talking to the army. – We find the scope of the work to be carried out in Lightning 2. After accepting the conditions we present and taking into account the needs of the military, we will begin investigation and development. For now, we are acting in our own capacity – explains Drabik. “If this year we manage to sign an agreement with the Armed Forces Agency, in 2028 the first Lightning 2 should go to the Polish recipient,” concludes the director.
