East Front News #32: Mirages over Ukraine, 3000 Piorun Delivered, Polish Navy and Army Contracts Coming Closer

French Mirage in the Ukrainian sky

On February 6, 2025, the French Minister of Defense (French: Ministre des Armées) Sébastien Lecornu announced on platform X that the first Mirage 2000-5F aircraft had been delivered to the Ukrainian side. The exact number of aircraft delivered is not known, but it is said that there will be 3 fighters. French portals estimate that the final number of Mirages for the Ukrainian side will be between 12 and 20 aircraft. Interestingly, the budget report of the National Assembly published in the fall of 2024 indicates that out of 26 Mirage 2000-5s, which are part of the French Air and Space Forces (French: Armée de l’Air et de l’Espace), the Ukrainian side is to receive only 6.

The deliveries are the culmination of President Macron’s declaration, which in June 2024 declared the transfer of French Mirage-2000s to Kiev. Following these words, Ukrainian pilots began training in France, and Paris optimized the specifications of the transferred machines so that they could receive and fire SCALP-EG and Storm Shadow maneuvering missiles.

In recent days, recordings have appeared in the infosphere, in which French Mirage 2000-5 fighters shot down Shahed-136 drones while patrolling the airspace of Yemen and the Red Sea using short-range thermally guided missiles of the MICA type. It is worth noting that this type of kamikaze unmanned systems is used by the Russian side in the war in Ukraine. The transfer of the Mirage 2000-5 to the Ukrainian Air Force, which is a multi-role version, can strengthen Kiev’s capabilities in the field of ground-attack operations, as well as an air superiority fighter.

Ukrainian Resources in Exchange for American Aid

American President Donald Trump announced on his social media platform, Truth Social, that U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will travel to Ukraine to meet with President Zelensky. The talks will focus on securing an agreement between Washington and Kyiv for access to Ukrainian resources in exchange for American support.

Ukraine is rich in rare earth elements, with 21 out of the 34 minerals classified as critical by the European Union located within its territory. However, a significant portion of these resources is currently under Russian occupation. President Trump is demanding minerals worth $500 billion. The Ukrainian government has expressed willingness to reach an agreement, though the exact terms of the deal remain unknown.

As the war in Ukraine nears its third year, both sides, exhausted by the conflict, are preparing for potential negotiations. The situation on the frontline currently places Kyiv in a weaker negotiating position, forcing it to seek further means to counter the Russian occupiers. Ukrainian resources could be an enticing offer for the Trump administration, which in return may continue providing crucial military aid to Ukraine.

For the future course of the war and eventual negotiations, Washington’s actions and the arrival of warmer weather—facilitating military operations on the front—will be key factors. We must add that Poland has been, from the beginning, a crucial partner for Ukraine and remains the main hub for all kinds of assistance (humanitarian, military, and political).

Defence24 Days 2025: A Key Event in Poland’s EU Presidency

Defence24 Days 2025 is a flagship event of Poland’s EU Presidency, reinforcing European defence cooperation and security. Taking place May 6-7, 2025, at Warsaw’s PGE Narodowy, it serves as a high-profile forum for strategic dialogue.

Under the theme ”Security, Europe!”, the event will unite politicians, military leaders, industry experts, and international delegations to discuss modernizing armed forces, countering hybrid threats, strengthening cybersecurity, and advancing defence technology.

With over 50 global delegations, Defence24 Days 2025 will drive innovation, resilience, and collaboration across the EU and NATO, solidifying Poland’s leadership in European security.

Join us in Warsaw for two days of key insights and networking. More at: Defence24Days.com.

Polish Defence Industry Strengthens with Piorun System

Polish defence company Mesko S.A. has delivered 3,000 Piorun Portable Anti-Aircraft Missile Systems. Used by the Polish Armed Forces, Ukraine, several NATO Allies and Moldova, these systems have proven highly effective, especially in Ukraine. The Piorun system offers enhanced targeting capabilities and resistance to countermeasures, making it a crucial asset on modern battlefields.

Renata Gruszczyńska, President of the Board, highlighted the significance of this delivery for Poland’s defence capabilities and international partnerships. She emphasized that the large-scale production and successful deployment of Piorun missiles strengthen Poland’s position as a reliable supplier of advanced military technology. This also reinforces NATO’s defensive strategies, as many member states have shown interest in acquiring these missile systems.

The successful integration of Piorun systems into Ukraine’s air defence has demonstrated their battlefield effectiveness against aerial threats, including drones, cruise missiles, helicopters and low-flying aircraft. This accomplishment has led to increased global demand, with several countries negotiating potential contracts for future deliveries. Mesko S.A. plans to expand its production capacity to meet rising orders while continuing to innovate its defence technologies.

Polish MoD Received an Offer for Borsuk IFV

The Armament Agency has received a bid regarding the first series-manufactured lot of Borsuk IFVs, Defence24.pl found out. „I can confirm that an interesting offer has been submitted to the Armament Agency and is now being thoroughly analyzed internally,” said Lt. Col. Grzegorz Polak, spokesperson for the Armament Agency, sharing this information with Defence24.pl when asked whether an offer for new infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) had been received. Earlier, Deputy Minister of National Defence Paweł Bejda had announced that the offer was expected to be submitted by February 10.

Unofficially, it is assumed that the offer will now be assessed in terms of price, schedule, and compliance with requirements, with details still subject to negotiation. If the proposal is accepted by the Armament Agency, it must undergo review by the General Prosecutor’s Office before it can be signed. According to previous unconfirmed reports, the contract may cover at least two battalions, meaning at least 116 vehicles. Over time, provided the manufacturer secures sufficient production capacity, additional batches of IFVs and accompanying vehicles will be ordered.

More than 20 Companies Interested in Upgrading Polish Ślązak OPV

In response to inquiries from the editorial team at Defence24.pl, the Armament Agency stated that as many as 21 entities have expressed interest in the preliminary market consultations regarding the equipping of the patrol corvette ORP „Ślązak” with weapon systems and additional equipment. On November 28, 2024, during the Navy Day celebrations, the Minister of National Defence, Władysław Kosiniak‑Kamysz, announced that in 2025, in addition to the contract for the purchase of the new‑type Orka submarines, a contract will be signed for the upgrade of the corvette ORP „Ślązak.”

Please click here to find the full list of entities that expressed interest in upgrading Ślązak as well as more background

Poland Expands Defence Cooperation with Norway

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz met with his Norwegian counterpart Tore Sandvik in an airbase in Łask, where Norwegian F-35 fighter aircraft have been deployed since early this year. Kosiniak-Kamysz announced that both countries plan to sign new security cooperation agreement soon, as the last one has been in place for 30 years making it neccesary to develop a new one to add modern threats. Norwegian minister, on the other hand said that Poland is a close ally that plays a key role in the defence and deterrence for Europe. Both ministers also discussed the cooperation of defence industries of both countries.

If you would like to receive this newsletter, please sign up by clicking HERE .

East Front News is a weekly newsletter and article on Defence24.com summarizing the past week’s most important events concerning security and the situation in the Central and Eastern Europe region. It includes original opinions and comments, along with key news items significant from a Polish perspective.

Aleksander Olech, PhD & Jakub Palowski, Deputy Ed. in Chief, Michał Górski