Poland has taken another important step towards modernizing its navy. The sheet metal cutting ceremony of the ORP Burza, the second of the Miecznik-class frigates, an important project of the domestic defense industry, was held in Gdynia, one of the country's major port cities. The ceremony was attended by many important figures from the defense and industry sectors, including Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz and senior officials from Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ) SA.
The name ORP Burza was inherited from a destroyer that served heroically in the Polish Navy during World War II. This meaningful name choice symbolises Poland's commitment to its maritime tradition and defence heritage.
Strategic Emphasis from Defense Minister
Minister of Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, in a statement on the X social media platform regarding the ceremony, said that this day is of great importance not only for the Polish Navy, but also for the country’s economy and defence industry companies. “Today is an important day for our Navy, as well as for our economy and defence industry companies. The construction of the second Miecznik frigate ORP Burza begins at PGZ Stocznia Wojenna. Our attention and that of our allies should be focused on the Baltic Sea. Without a secure Baltic Sea, secure communication routes and a developed infrastructure, there can be no secure Poland or a strong economy. To overcome these challenges, we need the best modern equipment, including other frigates being built at Polish shipyards with the participation of Polish companies,” Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz said. These words show that the project is not only a military necessity, but also plays a critical role in Poland’s economic and strategic interests.
Miecznik Class Frigates: Polish Navy's Modernization Drive
The Miecznik-class frigates are the product of a strategic initiative to modernize the Polish Navy fleet, jointly carried out by the Miecznik consortium led by Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ) and the Polish Armaments Inspectorate. In July 2021, the PGZ-Miecznik consortium signed a major contract for the design, construction and delivery of a total of three frigates with integrated combat systems by 2034. The consortium includes state-owned defense giant PGZ, as well as long-established Polish shipyards PGZ Stocznia Wojenna and Remontowa Shipbuilding. This collaboration is of great importance in terms of realizing the project with domestic resources.
The Miecznik program has a total budget of around 8 billion Polish zlotys (around $1,9 billion), including fire control systems and a logistics support package. This amount makes the project the largest contract in the history of the Polish defense industry. The steel-cutting ceremony for the first ship of the class, known as the Arrowhead 140 PL, was held in 2023 at the PGZ Shipyard in Gdynia. The keel-laying ceremony was then held in January 2024. The first ship is expected to enter official service with the Polish Navy in 2029, while the entire program is expected to be completed in 2032. This timeline shows that the project is a long-term and strategic investment.
Project Strengthened by International Collaborations
The Miecznik-class frigate project is being strengthened not only by domestic resources but also by international collaborations. Among the important contractors of the project is the French-based defense company Thales. Thales, as the main technology provider, signed a contract with PGZ for the delivery of the combat management system and related sensors in October 2023. Also based in France, the missile production giant MBDA reached an agreement with Poland to supply the ships with CAMM missiles and launchers, as well as the Sea Ceptor naval air defense system. These systems will enable the frigates to have an effective defense capability against air threats.
Canadian navigation solutions provider OSI Maritime Systems has also signed a contract to supply three Integrated Navigation and Bridge Systems (INBS) for the frigates. These systems are critical to the safe and efficient navigation of the ships. In September 2022, two separate contracts were signed with UK-based Babcock, namely the Class Design Agreement and the Transfer of Knowledge and Technology (TOKAT). The agreement aims to strengthen the project’s technical know-how and design capabilities. All these international collaborations will ensure that the Miecznik-class frigates are equipped with the most modern technologies and significantly increase the operational capabilities of the Polish Navy.
