Mesko
MESKO S.A. is a Polish state-owned defense manufacturer and subsidiary of PGZ, producing ammunition, rockets, and the Piorun MANPADS for the Polish Armed Forces and NATO allies such as Belgian Special Forces.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1924
- HeadquartersSkarzysko-kamienna, Poland
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Mesko does
MESKO S.A. is a Polish state-owned defense manufacturer and wholly-owned subsidiary of Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ), Poland's largest defense group. Founded in 1924 and headquartered in Skarzysko-Kamienna, the company operates as PGZ's ammunition and rocket center of excellence, with additional production facilities in Pionki, Kraśnik, Bolechowo, and Lubiczowo, and a workforce of 1,001-5,000 employees. Its core products include the Piorun man-portable air defense system (MANPADS), 70mm aerial rockets (localized in partnership with Thales), artillery ammunition across 155mm, 35mm, and 23mm calibers, modular metal charges and artillery powder (co-produced with Eurenco), and a Control Systems Division product line.
The company's business model is built on direct government defense procurement and international military sales. MESKO serves as a primary domestic supplier to the Polish Armed Forces under Poland's military modernization program and exports the Piorun system to allied nations including Belgian Special Forces. Pricing is confidential and negotiated contract-by-contract under multi-year procurement arrangements. The company pursues a partnership-led growth strategy, executing co-development and co-production agreements with Western European defense primes (Eurenco, Thales, Naval Group) to localize production of critical munitions components within Poland and expand into adjacent product domains such as maritime air defense and rocket propulsion.
Mesko firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Mesko
- Legal name
- MESKO S.A.
- Website
- https://mesko.com.pl
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1924
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- MESKO S.A. is a Polish state-owned defense manufacturer and subsidiary of PGZ, producing ammunition, rockets, and the Piorun MANPADS for the Polish Armed Forces and NATO allies such as Belgian Special Forces.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Mesko industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Defense Ammunition and Rocket Systems Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414), Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Propulsion Unit and Propulsion Unit Parts Manufacturing (336415), Small Arms Ammunition Manufacturing (332992), Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336419)
- SIC
- Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760), Ordnance & Accessories, (No Vehicles/Guided Missiles) (3480)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Guided Missile & Rocket Manufacturing (IMABAHAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Ammunition Manufacturing (Small-, Medium- & Large-Caliber) (IMABAHAG), Rocket Motors, Propellants & Warhead Integration (IMABAHAC), Tactical & Strategic Missile Systems (IMABAHAB)
Keywords
Where Mesko is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Skarzysko-kamienna
- HQ country
- Poland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices5 records
Markets served
Mesko business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Personnel
Revenue model
- Defense Ammunition Sales: Production and sale of ammunition products including artillery shells, small arms ammunition, and medium caliber ammunition to military customers.
- Rocket and Missile Systems: Manufacturing and sales of rocket systems including 70mm rockets and MANPADS systems like Piorun to government defense forces.
- Gunpowder and Propellants: Production of artillery powder and modular metal charges for ammunition, including joint operations with Eurenco.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Government defense procurement - pricing based on contract negotiations |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
Mesko product offering
Product offeringCore offering
MESKO S.A. manufactures and sells military ammunition, rocket systems, and man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS) to government defense forces and allied militaries. The company's flagship products include the Piorun MANPADS missile system, 70mm aerial rockets, artillery ammunition (155mm, 35mm, 23mm), modular metal charges for 155mm shells, and artillery powder/propellants. Products are sold primarily through government defense procurement contracts and international military sales agreements.
Product overview
MESKO S.A. is a Polish defense manufacturer specializing in ammunition and rocket systems. The company's product portfolio centers on the Piorun MANPADS (man-portable air defense system), 70mm rocket systems produced in partnership with Thales, and various artillery ammunition calibers (155mm, 35mm, 23mm). The company also produces modular metal charges and artillery powder for 155mm ammunition in cooperation with Eurenco. MESKO operates as part of the Polish Armaments Group (PGZ) and serves both domestic Polish Armed Forces and international customers including Belgian Special Forces.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Piorun: Polish man-portable air-defense system (MANPADS), an upgraded version of the Grom missile system
Products and services
- Piorun MANPADS
Companies that use Mesko
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Mesko technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Mesko partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and supporting.
- ThalescoreThales and MESKO signed an agreement to localize production of 70mm rocket systems in Poland. Polish Armaments Group subsidiaries handle motor assembly and key component manufacturing. The partnership includes exploration of joint development opportunities in effectors and advanced propulsion technologies as part of Poland's broader effort to expand domestic defense manufacturing capacity.
- Naval GroupstrategicMESKO, Naval Group, and TELESYTEM signed an agreement for demonstrations of the Piorun missile on Naval Group's Rampart maritime platform during future naval exercises. This partnership aims to showcase Piorun capabilities on maritime platforms.
- PGE DystrybucjasupportingMESKO and PGE Dystrybucja signed a cooperation agreement for securing electricity supply for a planned special production facility in Pionki.
- EurencocoreFrench defense company Eurenco is investing approximately €250 million in a new gunpowder plant in Poland in cooperation with PGZ, located in Pionki. The plant will have capacity of 1,200 tons of artillery powder and 600,000 modular metal charges annually for 155mm ammunition. MESKO and Eurenco previously launched a modular metal charge assembly line in July 2025.
- Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ)coreMESKO is a subsidiary of Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ), Poland's largest defense group, operating as the group's ammunition and rocket center of excellence.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Mesko competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Rheinmetall: Germany's largest defense contractor and a leading European manufacturer of 155mm artillery ammunition, propellants, and air-defense systems. Directly comparable to MESKO in artillery ammunition and propellant production, but at significantly greater scale and with broader product portfolio.
- KNDS (Nexter): Franco-German defense group formed from Nexter and KMW. Manufactures 155mm artillery systems and ammunition including modular charges, directly overlapping with MESKO's artillery ammunition and modular metal charge product lines.
- Lockheed Martin (Stinger): Manufacturer of the Stinger MANPADS, the Western incumbent that Piorun is competing against. Comparable in MANPADS air-defense mission, vastly larger in scale, R&D, and customer reach.
- Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ): MESKO's parent group and Poland's largest defense conglomerate; houses other defense subsidiaries (e.g., Huta Stalowa Wola, Rosomak) comparable in mission and customer set though not direct product overlap.
- BAE Systems: Global defense prime with significant artillery ammunition, missile, and air-defense product lines. Comparable in defense manufacturing scale and NATO customer access, though much broader portfolio.
- General Dynamics: Diversified US defense prime with ammunition and combat systems divisions (e.g., GD-OTS). Comparable in ammunition manufacturing capability though broader portfolio and global customer base.
Direct peers
- MBDA: European leader in missile systems including MANPADS (Mistral) and air defense. Direct peer to MESKO in MANPADS (Piorun vs Mistral) and competes for the same NATO air-defense procurement budgets.
- Nammo: Norwegian-Finnish defense manufacturer specializing in ammunition, rocket motors, and shoulder-launched munitions. Closely comparable product portfolio to MESKO across small/medium caliber ammunition and rocket propulsion.
- Eurenco: European leader in propellants and energetics, MESKO's joint venture partner on the €250M gunpowder plant. Comparable in propellant production though Eurenco focuses on energetics while MESKO integrates energetics into complete munitions.
- Thales: MESKO's partner for localization of 70mm rocket systems in Poland. Comparable in rocket/missile system manufacturing and a key technology transfer partner; broader portfolio across defense electronics and air defense.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Mesko social profiles
Digital presenceMesko financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Mesko leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Mesko funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Mesko M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Mesko
What does Mesko do?
MESKO S.A. manufactures and sells military ammunition, rocket systems, and man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS) to government defense forces and allied militaries. The company's flagship products include the Piorun MANPADS missile system, 70mm aerial rockets, artillery ammunition (155mm, 35mm, 23mm), modular metal charges for 155mm shells, and artillery powder/propellants. Products are sold primarily through government defense procurement contracts and international military sales agreements.
Is Mesko a public or private company?
Mesko is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Mesko founded?
Mesko was founded in 1924. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Mesko based?
Mesko is headquartered in Skarzysko-kamienna, Poland, in the Europe region.
How does Mesko make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Defense Ammunition Sales are the primary driver. The others are rocket and Missile Systems and gunpowder and Propellants.
Who are Mesko's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Rheinmetall, KNDS (Nexter), Lockheed Martin (Stinger), Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ), BAE Systems and General Dynamics. Direct peers are MBDA, Nammo, Eurenco and Thales.
Does Mesko have an API?
No public API is recorded for Mesko.
What industry is Mesko in?
Mesko's product category is Defense Ammunition and Rocket Systems Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABAHAA, Guided Missile & Rocket Manufacturing, with a secondary code of IMABAHAG, Ammunition Manufacturing (Small-, Medium- & Large-Caliber). Its NAICS code is 336414 and its SIC code is 3760.