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The following article presents the key technical modernization projects of the Polish Navy in recent times, with an emphasis on naval forces.
Orka submarines
As of the end of this July no final decision had been made regarding the purchase of new submarines under the program codenamed Orka (Orca). The procedure has been officially ongoing for 12 years. The process of acquiring three vessels began in June 2013, when the Armament Inspectorate (now the Armament Agency) initiated the analytical and conceptual phase of the project to purchase a new class of submarines, codenamed Orka, based on previously developed operational requirements. The new vessels were intended to be medium-sized submarines equipped with a propulsion system which included an additional air-independent electric power supply. The required armament was meant to include, among other things, multi-purpose torpedoes for engaging surface and underwater targets, as well as naval mines. The submarine was also supposed to feature multifunctional sonars, radars, electronic warfare systems and an advanced onboard combat system.
Throughout the analytical and conceptual phase conducted between 2013 and 2015, operational requirements were adjusted, indicating that along with the vessels, submarine-launched long-range cruise missiles designed to strike land targets deep within operational territory should also be acquired (these missiles were to be purchased through a separate procurement). Further analyses and preliminary negotiations with potential suppliers — Naval Group, ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, and Saab Kockums — were conducted between 2016 and 2017. In the following years, there was ongoing work to „establish the recommended procurement approach for the units”. According to the schedule regarding acquisition of Orka submarines revealed in 2021, two new submarines were expected to join the Polish fleet between 2030 and 2034, with the optional third one to be acquired after 2035.
Along with the submarines, additional packages are meant to be acquired such as: a logistical package, a training package for the crew and maintenance personnel as well as ordnance: torpedoes, anti-ship missiles, land-attack missiles, anti-air missiles and countermeasures against hostile torpedoes, as well as remotely controlled or autonomous underwater vehicles designed to operate in conjunction with the submarines.
Due to changes in the technical modernization priorities of the Polish Armed Forces and lessons learned from the war in Ukraine, analyses were resumed regarding the acquisition of new units in mid-2023. The Armament Agency initiated a preliminary market consultation procedure with potential bidders concerning the acquisition of a new class of submarine under the codename Orka (preliminary market consultations replaced the previous technical dialogue procedure in 2021). Preliminary consultations were conducted with seven potential bidders: Fincantieri, Hanwha Ocean, Hyundai Heavy Industries, Naval Group, Navantia, Saab, and ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, and were completed in mid-2024. The results of the work, along with a summary of the offers, were then submitted to the Technical Modernization Council of the Ministry of National Defense. By mid-year, the Armament Agency had completed the preliminary market consultations. Equipment requirements were defined as well, and a feasibility study was developed for the task titled Orka-Class New Submarine. At the time of closing this special issue of Nowa Technika Wojskowa magazine, intergovernmental consultations were still ongoing, conducted at the level of the Ministry of National Defense (Ministerstwo Obrony Narodowej, MON) with the countries of all potential contractors. „Not only are these consultations intended to provide answers concerning the delivery of the submarines themselves, but also, among other things, industrial cooperation.
As recently indicated by the MON leadership, an important element of the program is also the acquisition of a transitional unit (a so-called gap filler), the use of which will likely enable the decommissioning of the currently operated ORP Orzeł (Eagle) and allow for the implementation of the first stage of crew training for the new class of submarines. According to MON officials, a decision on the selection of a specific offer is expected in 2025; previously it had been indicated that a contract would be signed within the current year, which now seems increasingly unlikely. According to the “Technical Modernization Plan of the Polish Armed Forces for 2021–2035”, which remained in effect until recently, the acquisition of three new submarines was planned with deliveries expected after 2030. A new “Technical Modernization Plan for 2025–2039” is currently in its final stage of development, and it may introduce changes to the timeline for the acquisition of the new submarines.
Miecznik Frigates
The most important modernization project for the Polish Navy is the construction and subsequent fielding of three multi-role Miecznik-class frigates. The project to acquire new large combat vessels began in June 2013, when the Armament Inspectorate initiated the analytical and conceptual phase for the project to purchase three coastal defense ships (corvettes) codenamed Miecznik (Swordfish), based on previously developed operational requirements.
However, the procedure was cancelled twice — in July 2016 and again in 2019, each time for different reasons. Another attempt was made in October 2019 after the approval of the “Technical Modernization Plan of the Polish Armed Forces for 2021–2035, including 2020”, which assumed the acquisition of three Miecznik-class units, but larger than in previous attempts, that is multi-role frigates. In March 2021, the Minister of National Defense approved the preliminary tactical and technical requirements for the vessels, and the following month a procedure was launched to acquire the frigates through negotiations with a single contractor, namely PGZ Naval Shipyard. During this procedure, the Polish Armaments Group (Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa, PGZ) and PGZ Naval Shipyard formed an agreement establishing the “PGZ-Miecznik” consortium, which is meant to be the main contractor for the Miecznik frigate project; initially, the consortium also included the Remontowa Shipbuilding shipyard. To meet the needs of building the new units, PGZ Naval Shipyard was modernized.
Ultimately, in July 2021, the Armament Inspectorate signed a contract with the „PGZ-Miecznik” consortium for the acquisition of the first ship as a result of developmental work and two follow on production units. The contract includes the design, construction, and delivery of three surface frigates equipped with an Integrated Combat System (ICS). The final offers were based on ship designs from three foreign contractors: Babcock International, Navantia, and ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems. Additionally, in September 2021, a cooperation agreement for the implementation of the project was signed between PGZ Naval Shipyard and the Research and Development Center of the Marine Technology Center (OBR CTM) for the development of the ICS for the designed units, in collaboration with one of three potential partners: Navantia, Saab, or Thales.
In February 2022, the Inspiration/Arrowhead 140 design, offered by Babcock International, was selected as the base for the naval platform, with TACTICOS chosen as the ICS. Miecznik program involves a multi-stage process that includes transfer of technology and know-how from foreign partners to Polish consortium entities, preparing industrial capabilities for the commencement of ship construction, building the ships (with the construction of a prototype unit as a result of developmental work and two production units), and conducting their tests. It is worth noting that in 2023, Remontowa Shipbuilding shipyard left the „PGZ-Miecznik” consortium, remaining an industrial partner of the project.
In July 2023, the technical design of the vessel was completed, and in August, the steel cutting for the first Miecznik-class ship took place. The warship would be named ORP Wicher (Gale). Simultaneously with the symbolic commencement of the ship’s construction, Babcock International signed a licensing agreement with the “PGZ-Miecznik” consortium for the use of Arrowhead 140 design in the implementation of the Polish Miecznik frigate construction program. The license allows for construction of three vessels in Poland, modified according to the requirements of the Polish Navy. The contract also enables construction of additional five Miecznik-class vessels if the need arises.
The keel-laying of the first ship in the series occurred in January 2024. The construction of the second frigate, ORP Burza (Storm), was inaugurated in May of this year, and its keel-laying is scheduled for the fourth quarter of this year. The ships are being built using a modular block system — as ready-made hull modules — by PGZ Naval Shipyard (midship modules) and a subcontractor, CRIST shipyard (bow modules). All partially equipped components will be integrated in the hull assembly hall at PGZ Naval Shipyard.
The launching of the first ship is expected in the third quarter of 2026, with testing scheduled to begin that same year. Afterwards, the process of transferring the ship to the user will begin, which typically takes several months. Once the frigate is handed over to the Polish Navy, a test phase will commence involving system validation along with the Integrated Combat System, during which mooring trials, sea trials, and testing of combat systems — including live-fire missile tests — should be conducted. Only after a positive assessment of this phase can the integration of combat systems on the second and third frigates proceed.
According to available information, the schedule for the ship’s acceptance and handover includes testing to ensure that the first ship enters service in the second quarter of 2030. The launch of the second frigate is planned for the end of 2027. The process of outfitting, testing, and acceptance by the customer is expected to last until mid-2030 — approximately the same time as for the first ship. Similarly, the construction of the third frigate, ORP Huragan (Hurricane), is scheduled to begin in the third quarter of 2026, with launch expected in the third quarter of 2028. This vessel is to be handed over to the Navy by the end of 2031.
Given that the two production vessels will be constructed in a cascading sequence – partially in parallel with the first ship – once the capabilities, equipment, and armament installed on the prototype vessel have been finally validated, these elements will be installed on the other ships.
Each vessel will have its own logistics and munitions package (including missiles, ammunition for cannons, torpedoes, jamming devices, and decoy systems). It is anticipated that logistics packages will be acquired as part of the third phase of the Miecznik program, which will involve creating a base for ongoing maintenance of the vessels, including a spare parts warehouse for key components and subsystems. Additionally, this phase was meant to include the delivery of complete munition packages for all three vessels. Due to changes in the program procedures, adjustments will likely be made to the so-called logistics phase, which involves the construction of the maintenance base and procurement of munitions for all the vessels.
New Surface Vessels
Three Project 258 Kormoran II-class (Cormorant) mine countermeasure vessels are currently in service with an additional three planned. The history of this class of vessels formally began in 2005 with a decision to initiate research and development program for a new Kormoran minehunter, to be carried out by the Naval Shipyard and OBR CTM. The contract for construction of the prototype Project 258 Kormoran II vessel was signed in September 2013 with a consortium consisting of Remontowa Shipbuilding, Naval Shipyard, Ship Technology Center and OBR CTM. The vessel, named ORP Kormoran, entered service in November 2017. One month later, a contract was signed with the consortium for the delivery of two production Kormoran II-class vessels. The first of them, ORP Albatros (Albatross), entered service in November 2022, followed by the second, ORP Mewa (Gull), in February of the following year.
In June 2022, while they were still under construction, a new contract was signed between the Armament Agency and a consortium consisting of Remontowa Shipbuilding, PGZ Naval Shipyard and OBR CTM for the delivery of three additional Project 258 vessels.
Construction of the first ship in this batch, ORP Jaskółka (Swallow), began in July 2023, and it was launched in June of the following year. The next ship, ORP Rybitwa (Tern), has been under construction since March 2024, and the keel of the third minehunter — and so far the last —ORP Czajka (Lapwing), was laid in December. The contracted vessels are scheduled to enter service in 2026–2027 timeframe and will be significantly modified compared to both the first ORP Kormoran and the other two ships of the initial series.
Two new reconnaissance ships, codenamed Delfin (Dolphin), are currently under construction. The acquisition process formally began in January 2016, and in August of the same year, the launch of a technical dialogue was announced for contractors interested in delivering reconnaissance vessels for the Polish Navy. Between 2016 and 2022, further analyses were conducted regarding the proposed procurement approach. Ultimately, in November 2022, the Armament Agency signed a contract with Saab for the design, construction, and technical support of two signals intelligence (SIGINT) vessels. The Swedish company is the main contractor, responsible for designing the ships, equipping them with mission systems, and final assembly. The design of the Polish vessels is based on Artemis ship built for the Swedish Navy, as both projects — for the Swedish and Polish fleets — were developed by the same design bureau, MMC Ship Design & Marine Consulting. The hulls of both ships will be built by the Polish shipyard Remontowa Shipbuilding, which is a subcontractor to Saab in this project. The Polish yard will construct fully functional naval platforms and conduct initial tests, including mooring and sea trials. Afterward, the ships will be outfitted with mission systems, including reconnaissance systems, by Saab and its subcontractors.
The commencement of the construction of the first Polish Delfin, the Project 107 vessel named ORP Jerzy Różycki, took place at the Remontowa Shipbuilding shipyard in Gdańsk in April 2023, with the keel laid in July. The hull was launched in July of this year. Remontowa Shipbuilding is set to conduct necessary tests, including the full range of dock trials (Harbour Acceptance Tests, HAT) and sea trials (Sea Acceptance Tests, SAT). Subsequently, Saab — at the Remontowa Shipbuilding shipyard and in cooperation with it — will equip the vessels with specialized mission systems. The steel cutting for the second vessel, ORP Henryk Zygalski, occurred in November 2023, with the keel laid in January of the following year. ORP Jerzy Różycki is expected to enter service 48 months after the end of 2022, and the second vessel 54 months after that date, meaning both Polish Delfins are scheduled to be in service by mid-2027.
A significant milestone has also been reached in the long-running project to build a new rescue ship for the Polish Navy. Last December, the Armament Agency signed a contract for the construction of a rescue vessel under the program codenamed Ratownik (Rescuer), along with a logistical support package. The contractor is a consortium composed of PGZ, PGZ Naval Shipyard, and OBR CTM. The agreement foresees steel cutting for the ship to occur within 12 months of the contract award — that is, by the end of December 2025 — with keel laying scheduled for two months later, in February 2026. The launch of the partially outfitted platform is planned for 2027, and the completed vessel is expected to enter service two years later. The currently constructed Ratownik ship is intended for search and rescue operations, including the rescue of submarine crews. The platform is intended to carry out rescue support tasks for the training and operational activities of domestic and allied surface, submarine, and air forces. In addition, it will be used for emergency and recovery operations, including the search, identification, and retrieval of sunken equipment.
Only the third attempt to acquire a vessel of this class ended in success. The first attempt to acquire – initially two – units of this class began in September 2017. After negotiations, in December of that year a contract was signed with a consortium consisting of: PGZ, NAUTA Shiprepair Yard, PGZ Naval Shipyard, and OBR CTM for the construction of one unit of this class (with an option for the second ship). Prolonged design work and an anticipated significant increase in the cost of the unit caused the ordering party to withdraw from the contract in April 2020, and the project was ended at the stage of the executive design. Three months later, the Armaments Inspectorate resumed negotiations regarding the delivery of the rescue vessel, and the same consortium submitted an offer. Again, in February 2022, these negotiations were concluded without signing a contract, similarly to the first case, mainly due to costs of delivery that were too high for the ordering party. The third proceeding regarding the rescue vessel was started in November of the previous year, and only this attempt ended with signing a contract for the construction of the unit.
A project to acquire a new hydrographic vessel, codenamed Hydrograf (Hydrographer), is currently underway. The program under this codename was initiated back in July 2018 and initially involved two units of this class intended for comprehensive hydrographic support of the operational areas of the Polish Navy. Analyses regarding the purchase of the vessels were completed in 2023, and in June of last year, the Armament Agency published information about its intention to conduct preliminary market consultations concerning a new hydrographic vessel for the Navy, codenamed Hydrograf. The new procedure involves the construction of only one unit, which will primarily carry out tasks in the Baltic and North Seas. As of mid-2025, the detailed project analyses had not been completed, and no contractor had been selected to build the new hydrographic vessel.
Modernizations and Overhauls
In December 2024, the Armament Agency announced its intention to conduct preliminary market consultations regarding the retrofitting of the ORP Ślązak (Silesian) patrol corvette. The scope of the upgrade has not been disclosed but is expected to include weapons systems and additional equipment enabling capabilities such as: striking surface and air targets with missiles, employing and countering unmanned aerial vehicles, and conducting radar reconnaissance operations. Additionally, along with the ship’s modernization, logistic and training packages related to the new equipment are to be acquired. A significant condition set by the Armament Agency for this modernization is that the work must be carried out at a shipyard located within the territory of the Republic of Poland. By mid-2025, analyses concerning detailed project issues had not been completed, and no supplier of modernization packages nor Polish shipyard to rebuild ORP Ślązak to the new standard had been selected.
Three Project 660M Orkan/Żeglarek fast attack crafts are currently undergoing modernization. In July 2022, the Armaments Agency signed an agreement with a consortium of the Polish Armaments Group and PGZ Stocznia Wojenna to replace propulsion system components, ship equipment, electrical systems, communications equipment, and technical observation systems on all three ships. The first modernized ship is scheduled to enter service this year, and the remaining two in 2026-2027.
A gradual modernization of the Project 207 minesweepers currently operated by the Polish Navy is underway. The three series of these vessels, totaling 17 ships, entered service between 1982 and 1994. While the hulls can likely remain in service for at least another 10 years, their propulsion systems, weaponry, and onboard equipment are outdated.
The first vessel underwent modernization between 2017 and 2019 at the NAUTA shipyard. In addition to a full overhaul, the work included the installation of new propulsion and power supply systems. Positive results from that effort led to the June 2022 order for modernization of three additional minesweepers, covering the same modernization scope as the first, and in September 2024 – another one. This phase also included replacement of outdated navigation and communication systems. All three ships returned to service by the end of March 2025. According to available information, similar work is planned for more minesweepers, with the goal of having a total of 12 upgraded small mine countermeasure vessels in the Polish Navy fleet in the next decade.
Other Future Naval Projects
Based on the information available to the author, a project for new missile warship codenamed Murena (Moray eel) is currently under consideration for implementation. Contrary to some reports, it remains included in the „Technical Modernization Plan of the Polish Armed Forces for 2021–2035,” and will likely also be included in the modernization program for 2025–2039. It should be added that the Murena vessel acquisition project was first disclosed in October 2019, in the context of the publication of framework information about the aforementioned 2021–2035 plan. At that time, it was stated that these would be fast corvette-class vessels armed with a missile system for engaging surface and land targets, a short-range air defense missile system, a medium-caliber cannon and a close-in weapon system. It was also indicated that acquiring up to six Murena units would depend on financial resources available for the technical modernization of the Polish Navy, which would remain at the disposal of the Ministry of National Defense after the implementation of higher-priority projects. As of now, i.e., mid-2025, the Murena project is still included in the modernization plans of our naval forces, and according to available information, four units are planned for procurement.
Additionally, according to available data based on public information from the Armament Agency and the Armed Forces General Command – Naval Inspectorate, the following acquisitions are included in the modernization plans for the maritime branch of the Polish Armed Forces through 2039 (as of mid-2025):
• Fuel tankers codenamed Supply: Two vessels intended for the transportation and supply of other ships with liquid fuels.
• Logistics support ship codenamed Bałtyk (Baltic): One vessel intended to supply ships at sea with fuel, other liquid supplies, and solid cargo.
• Small transport boats and tugboats codenamed Transhol: Nine vessels designated for transporting personnel and cargo and performing towing operations in port areas and roadstead.
• Degaussing stations codenamed Magneto: Two vessels designed for the degaussing of other ships to reduce their magnetic field.
• Environmental barge codenamed Ekotank (Ecotank): One vessel intended for refueling ships, collecting pollutants, and cleaning waters in ports and roadstead.
• Unmanned mine destruction systems codenamed Kijanka (Tadpole) : Four systems of unmanned vehicles designed for detecting and destroying sea mines and other hazardous underwater ordnance.
• Maritime force protection systems codenamed Ostryga (Oyster): Two unmanned systems intended for monitoring and protecting naval task forces against surface and underwater threats.
• Joint support ship codenamed Marlin: One ship designated for comprehensive support of naval task forces at sea, far from national or allied bases.
Other Purchases
The most significant modernization project of the Polish Navy in recent months regarding coastal equipment is the July order for new radar stations for coastal observation posts. The Armament Agency signed a contract with Elta Systems and KenBIT for the delivery of 18 Elta ELM-2238X STAR-X radars between 2027 and 2030. These stations will be installed on observation post towers, replacing the decommissioned NUR-23 coastal radars, which date back to the 1980s. The new radars are intended to secure the Polish coastline by providing both surface and air situation awareness. Israeli company Elta Systems will be responsible for delivering and installing the radar equipment, while the Polish company will handle telecommunications infrastructure, as well as software and the datalink system with higher command centers such as the Air Operations Center or the Maritime Operations Center.
Additionally, in recent months, the Armament Agency has launched several procurement procedures for our naval forces, including the purchase of five MU90PDT (Practice Delivery Torpedo) training torpedoes with a logistics package. Additionally, one Saab AUV-62-AT unmanned system, ordered in December 2022, was received, which is used to train operators responsible for searching for submerged submarines. In the second half of 2024 and this year, the 1st Regional Logistics Base — responsible for deliveries outside central procurement — announced several tenders for items such as transport and rescue equipment, as well as uniforms for the Navy.
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