PGZ PILICA+

History

PGZ PILICA+ is a Polish integrated short-range air-defence system developed as an enhanced form of the PILICA missile-and-artillery system. It combines gun and very-short-range missile effectors with MBDA CAMM missiles, radar sensors, and a computerized command element.

The system is intended to protect troops, airfields, command posts, critical infrastructure, and other important sites against aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles. PILICA+ forms an inner layer of Poland's wider air-defence architecture.

The program combines equipment produced by Poland's defence industry with the British-designed CAMM missile family supplied through cooperation with MBDA and the United Kingdom.

Development and procurement

Poland announced the PILICA+ upgrade in 2022. The upgrade added MBDA CAMM surface-to-air missiles and iLauncher launchers to the existing missile-and-artillery architecture. The system also incorporates new Polish Bystra radars.

On 28 April 2023, Poland and the United Kingdom concluded a major agreement covering CAMM missiles and iLaunchers for 22 PILICA+ batteries. According to Breaking Defense, the agreement was valued at £1.9 billion and covered integration of CAMM with Polish autocannon and very-short-range infrared-guided missile components.

In August 2025, Poland's Minister of National Defence announced that production of PILICA+ systems at Tarnów Mechanical Works would be accelerated. The program is part of Poland's development of a multilayered air-defence network.

In November 2025, Poland received the first serial system produced under the PILICA+ program. It was the first of 16 newly built systems planned for the Polish Armed Forces. Together with six existing PILICA systems scheduled for modernization to the PILICA+ standard, the program covers 22 batteries. Deliveries are scheduled for completion by 2029, according to Militarnyi.

In September 2026, MBDA opened its first industrial facility in Czosnow, Poland. The site provides maintenance, repair, and specialist training for air-defence systems and supports the PILICA+ program within cooperation involving the Polish Ministry of National Defence and Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa.

Design

Battery architecture

A PILICA+ battery combines missile, gun, radar, command, ammunition, and transport elements. The first serial system delivered in 2025 was described as comprising six combat modules, one command post, one radar station, two ammunition supply vehicles, and two transport vehicles.

Each combat module uses the ZUR-23-2SP Jodek missile-and-artillery system. This combines a twin 23 mm anti-aircraft cannon with two Piorun very-short-range surface-to-air missile launchers. The combat modules are carried on Polish Jelcz 442.32 4×4 vehicles.

Sensors and control

PILICA+ uses radar and optoelectronic information for target detection and tracking. The enhanced configuration incorporates Polish Bystra radar equipment. The system's command element coordinates the battery's sensors and effectors, allowing different weapons to engage threats at different distances.

Armament

PILICA+ adds MBDA CAMM radar-guided surface-to-air missiles and iLauncher launchers to the shorter-range gun-and-missile layer inherited from PILICA. CAMM provides an engagement range of up to approximately 25 km. The underlying PILICA configuration has a reported engagement reach of about 7 km without CAMM.

The combination of CAMM, Piorun missiles, and 23 mm automatic cannon gives PILICA+ several engagement layers within one battery. The shorter-range weapons provide point defence while CAMM extends the defended area against airborne threats.

Program status

PILICA+ is in serial delivery to the Polish Armed Forces. The first serial system was delivered in November 2025. The procurement program covers 16 newly manufactured systems and modernization of six existing PILICA systems to the PILICA+ standard, for a total of 22 batteries. Completion of deliveries is scheduled for 2029.

Industrial support has also expanded alongside production. MBDA's facility opened in Czosnow in 2026 provides maintenance, repair, and training connected with the program, while Polish industry remains responsible for major elements of the system and its integration.

Operators

• Poland: Polish Armed Forces. The program covers 22 PILICA+ batteries, including 16 newly produced systems and six existing PILICA batteries to be upgraded. The first serial system was delivered in 2025, with completion scheduled for 2029.

Specifications (PILICA+)

General characteristics

• Type: Integrated short-range missile-and-artillery air-defence system.
• Battery combat modules: Six.
• Command elements: One command post per delivered battery configuration described in 2025.
• Radar: One radar station per delivered battery configuration; the PILICA+ upgrade incorporates Polish Bystra radar equipment.
• Support vehicles: Two ammunition supply vehicles and two transport vehicles in the first serial configuration described in 2025.
• Combat module vehicle: Jelcz 442.32 4×4.

Armament

• Medium component of the short-range layer: MBDA CAMM surface-to-air missiles carried by iLauncher launchers.
• Gun armament: Twin 23 mm anti-aircraft cannon on each ZUR-23-2SP Jodek combat module.
• Very-short-range missiles: Two Piorun missile launchers integrated with each Jodek combat module.

Performance

• CAMM engagement range: Up to approximately 25 km.
• PILICA configuration without CAMM: Approximately 7 km reported engagement reach.