The Norwegian Armed Forces has conducted its first Piorun MANPADS live firing. (Norwegian Armed Forces/Torbjørn Kjosvold)
The Norwegian Armed Forces announced on its website on 16 August that it had conducted its first Piorun (Lightning) live firing as the manportable air-defence system (MANPADS) enters army service. A MANPADS troop has been established in the Finnmark Land Defence Jegerbataljonen (Ranger Battalion) at the Sør-Varanger Garrison.
“They will protect the Jegerbataljonen so that they can operate more freely, become even more efficient, and pose an increasing threat to an enemy who wants to attack Norway,” said Finnmark Land Defence Commander Colonel Jørn Qviller. “We will gradually distribute the system in Finnmark Land Defence and the Finnmark Brigade and hopefully to other parts of the army in the long term as well.”
“We will build up a layered air defence in Finnmark,” he added, noting that MANPADS provides very short air defence.
Col Qviller said, “For the enemy, this means that they must deal with such a threat. They have to fly higher, fly on the flanks, or maybe they won't even dare to fly at all. No one can be sure that they have complete freedom to fly helicopters and drones into Norwegian territory with a portable air-defence system present.”
The Norwegian Armed Forces noted that Piorun has proven to be effective in the Ukraine conflict.
Norway first ordered Piorun in 2022. It is operated by a single soldier and its fire-and-forget missile is guided by an infrared sensor.
Norway, along with Estonia, Lithuania, and Poland, have requested European Union (EU) funding for the joint procurement of Piorun under the European Defence Industry Reinforcement through Common Procurement Act (EDIRPA).
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