The start of construction of the first Project 106 frigate Miecznik was a long-awaited event in Poland. Historic names were reserved for the Polish Navy’s most important ships: ORP Wicher (gale), ORP Burza (storm) and ORP Huragan (hurricane). The first two commemorate the destroyers ordered from France in 1926 (derivatives of the L’Adroit-class) and which were the first large and new built ships of the Polish fleet after Poland regained independence in 1918. The name Huragan was to be given to a destroyer under construction in Poland since the summer of 1939, but the outbreak of II World War prevented its completion.
These are the first combat vessels of this size being built for the Polish Navy. To date, the largest vessel built in Poland has been the poorly armed patrol corvette ORP Ślązak project 621 (MEKO A100PL).
The Miecznik frigates are being built by the PGZ-MIECZNIK consortium (Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa S.A. and PGZ Stocznia Wojenna Sp. z o.o.), with support from Remontowa Shipbuilding S.A. and foreign partners: Babcock International Group, MBDA UK, Thales UK. Project Miecznik is based on the commercial Arrowhead 140 (AH140) design, derived from the Danish Iver Huitfeldt-class frigates. The laying of the keel of ORP Wicher (shipyard number 106/1) will take place in the first quarter of 2024, the launch is scheduled for the second half of 2026. In 2028-2030, acceptance and qualification tests and the handover of the frigate to the Polish Navy will take place. Under the contract, for the time being, only the first ship will receive a complete combat system. The two follow-on frigates will be “fitted for but not with”.
Five more frigates?
Babcock International announced on August 14 that the company had entered into a license agreement with PGZ-MIECZNIK for the use of the AH140 frigate design for the Polish Miecznik program. Based on the license granted by Babcock, the consortium will build three frigates in Poland based on the AH140 design, with specific modifications to meet the requirements of the Polish Navy.
The license agreement includes an option to build five more units “if the need arises.” This rather sensational information is puzzling. It is not entirely clear why the Polish Navy needs eight frigates, unless it is planned to increase its involvement in international missions, since keeping such a number of large surface combatants in the Baltic is difficult to justify. What is certain is that Poland will hold parliamentary elections on October 15, and the current cabinet is making heavy use of the gigantic defense enhancement spending in the election campaign.
Joint Venture to be formed
Also on the day of the first steel cutting for the construction of the ORP Wicher, PGZ announced the conclusion of a framework agreement with Babcock to form a Joint Venture. The new company will not only support the current Miecznik program, but also act as a platform for future warship construction opportunities. In the longer term, PGZ together with Babcock plan to create export opportunities. The companies will also seek opportunities to collaborate on other naval and broader defense programs by optimizing the resources, capabilities and infrastructure of both organizations.
