Poland has made a significant move in strengthening its air defense capabilities with the recent procurement of 24 sets of P-18PL (UW-10) long-range radar systems from PGZ-NAREW Consortium, in a contract signed by the Armament Agency on December 19th. This landmark agreement, valued at over 3.1 billion zloty, spans from 2023 to 2035 and includes the delivery of 24 P-18PL radar stations along with a comprehensive training package and technical assistance services as part of the logistical support. The radar is designed to seamlessly integrate with all Air Force command systems and Anti-Aircraft and Anti-Missile Defense systems used within the Polish military. The P-18PL radar system will collaborate with the Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System (IBCS) for short-range air defense missile systems under the NAREW project, as well as medium-range air defense systems as part of the second stage of the WISLA program.
Having successfully completed qualification tests in December 2022, the P-18PL radar system received positive feedback, paving the way for its procurement by the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland and subsequent serial production. This procurement stands as a significant milestone not only for members of the PGZ-NAREW Consortium, notably PIT-RADWAR S.A., but also for the Polish Armed Forces. The P-18PL radar stations represent cutting-edge solutions in the field of radar technology. They will effectively complement the multi-layered air defense and anti-missile system being constructed in Poland, enhancing the capabilities of the NAREW and WIS?A systems. This acquisition underscores the capability of Polish technological innovation to meet the challenges of both present and future battlefields. PIT-RADWAR, in particular, stands as a company setting global trends in radar technology, as emphasized by Sebastian Chwa?ek, the President of the PGZ S.A. board.
The P-18PL comprises a set of three elements: the antenna vehicle (WA-18), power supply unit (JZ-18T), and indicator vehicle (WW-18). The primary function of this radar system is early detection of aerial threats, determining the direction and type of attack, and classifying the nature of the threat. Identified threats enable the radar to designate targets for fire control radars. The P-18PL is a three-coordinate radar capable of scanning space in azimuth and elevation planes. It employs an active electronically scanned array (AESA) antenna with electronically controlled transmitting beams and digital reception beamforming. This innovation enables not only distance and azimuth determination, as in the previously used P-18 radar, but also the altitude of detected objects. Operating in the meter wave band, the radar stands out from other Western designs, which mostly operate in the microwave band.
Key features of the P-18PL include the capability to detect and track ballistic and hypersonic missiles, identify stealth aircraft, detect hovering helicopters, and operate in a passive mode while maintaining high mobility—achieving combat readiness in under 30 minutes. The PGZ-NAREW Consortium comprises several entities, including the Polish Armaments Group (leader of the consortium), Huta Stalowa Wola S.A., Jelcz sp. z o.o., MESKO S.A., Centre for Maritime Technology Research and Development S.A., PCO S.A., PIT-RADWAR S.A., Military Communication Works No. 1 S.A., Military Armament Works S.A., Military Electronic Works S.A., and Tarnów Mechanical Works S.A.
