MBDA has been contracted by the Polish Armaments Agency to supply CAMM missiles and iLaunchers for the Polish air defense modernization program PILICA+.
In total, MBDA will supply 44 iLaunchers and several hundred CAMM missiles and related equipment in a deal valued at £1.9 billion (USD 2376, approx.) to support Poland’s modernization and build-up of a total of 22 PILICA+ air defense batteries, making it NATO’s largest European short-range air defense procurement program.
Designed by PGZ (a consortium composed of several Polish defense companies), the PILICA+ will combine MBDA’s radar-guided short-range CAMM missiles with the PILICA very short-range air defense system, composed of Polish ZUR-23-2SP 23mm guns derived from the Soviet ZU-23-2 model, to which is added a double launcher of Grom or Piorun missiles (also designed in Poland and successfully combat-tested in Ukraine).
Each PILICA+ air defense battery will be composed of two launchers (iLauncher)and their CAMM missiles, to which will be integrated the PILICA system battery with six ZUR-23-2SP firing units, in addition to the SOLA airborne warning and interception radar, the command post, the logistic repair truck and the ammunition transport truck.
PILICA+ will function as the inner tier of a high-capacity integrated Polish air defense network that also includes the top-tier WISLA system and the mid-tier NAREW system, on which MBDA and PGZ are also working.
CAMM air defense system
CAMM, or Common Anti-air Modular Missile, is the next-generation air defense missile designed for land, sea and air environments.
It incorporates advanced technologies to provide comprehensive protection against all known and projected air targets.
The CAMM missile features an active radio frequency seeker that offers true all-weather performance and excellent clutter rejection capability. The missile can intercept targets up to 25 km range.
This system first entered service with the UK Armed Forces in 2018.
Poland is already an MBDA CAMM user, receiving a first battery in 2022 in response to an urgent requirement called mała (small) NAREW that was successfully delivered by MBDA and PGZ within 6 months. MBDA and PGZ are also continuing to work to contract for technology transfer and Polish manufacturing of the mid-tier NAREW air defense program, using the CAMM-ER missile (co-developed between the UK and Italy) with an extended range of up to 45 km and a common iLauncher solution, to form the upper-tier air defense.
Poland will benefit from the synergies of using the CAMM family in multiple domains, as these missiles will also equip Poland’s future maritime air defense system on board the Miecznik class frigates.
