“Miecznik” Gains Momentum. First Steel Plate for ORP Burza Cut [PHOTO]

An identical ceremony for the prototype Project 106/1 frigate was held on 16 August 2023. The keel for that prototype—destined to be named ORP Wicher (274)—was laid on 31 January 2025. Wicher’s launch is currently planned for Q3 2026, with handover to the Navy in Q3 2028.

The keel for Burza is scheduled for Q4 2025. Her launch is planned for Q3 2027, with delivery to the customer in Q2 2030.

Next in line is the third and final frigate, ORP Huragan (276). The first steel plate “burn” for her is planned in Q3 2026, keel laying in Q4 2026, launch in Q3 2028, and handover in Q2 2031.

On 27th July 2021 at the naval port in Gdynia, Minister of Defence Mariusz Błaszczak officially approved the signed contract to acquire the capability to strike sea, air, and land targets by procuring three frigates under the codename Miecznik. Only after the contract was signed did work begin to select a foreign partner and design. The choice fell on the British firm Babcock and its Arrowhead 140 design.

The Miecznik frigates will feature a versatile and rich suite of equipment and armament. They will be fitted with a Combat Management System (CMS) comprised of 18 operator consoles (MOC) in the operations room and 2 MOC consoles in the staff room, as well as a data transfer system for the ship’s operational picture.

Each ship will carry a missile armament package of four Mk 41 vertical launchers (Lockheed Martin), each with eight cells, plus two quadruple NSM anti ship missile launchers (Kongsberg). The Mk 41 cells will be capable of housing MBDA CAMM surface to air missiles (four per cell). As Polish British cooperation on the land based Narew air defense system develops, the ships could be adapted to launch CAMM ER (once the launchers are modified) and CAMM MR (once the missiles are developed). Equipping the prototype with CAMM ER and CAMM MR remains an option to be activated in a future contract annex. Another option is to strengthen anti ship firepower by adding further NSM launchers.

Gun armament will consist of a single 76 mm OTO Melara Super Rapid Strales gun (Leonardo), two OSU 35K naval weapons stations (PIT Radwar), and heavy machine guns—two manually operated WKM Bm and two remote controlled.

Anti submarine armament will include two twin B515/2V lightweight torpedo launchers; the supplier is yet to be chosen.

The ships will receive extensive technical and hydroacoustic sensor suite, including:

• Thales Sea Master 410 long range 3D radar;
• Thales NS58 medium range 3D radar
• Thales STIR 1.2 EO Mk2 fire control radar
• Thales TSA 6000 IFF integrator and TSC 4000 transponder
• Two ZGS 35K electro optical heads for the OSU 35K stations (PIT Radwar);
• Thales Blue Hunter hull mounted sonar;
• Thales CAPTAS 2 towed sonar;
• Thales bathymetric probe;
• Thales TUUM 6 hydrophone Wavefront Sentinel IDS diver detection sonar.

They will also be equipped with integrated electronic warfare, navigation, bridge, and communications systems developed by PGZ Naval Shipyard using components from OSI and Rohde & Schwarz.

Although the contract for the Miecznik frigates was signed in 2021, it was only on 30 June 2023 that Annex 3—detailing the prototype 106/1 configuration—was concluded. On 15 December 2023, Annex 4 was signed to standardize hulls 106/2 and 106/3 to the prototype in terms of combat systems.

Under Annex 4, serial units (106/2–3) will include:

• Two OSU 35K small caliber gun stations with ZGS 35K electro optical heads;
• Two manually operated heavy machine guns;
• Two remote controlled heavy machine guns;
• STIR 1.2 EO Mk2 fire control radar;
• CAPTAS 2 towed sonar;
• Sentinel IDS diver detection sonar;
• Kora integrated electronic warfare suite.

Annex 4 pricing was already high at PLN 14.8 billion gross. Subsequent annexes will likely increase the total. This price covers the three frigates themselves but excludes shipborne helicopters, missiles, torpedoes, and their ammunition, which must be contracted separately.

PGZ War Shipyard is completing major modernization of both its infrastructure and machinery. From the start, construction has involved partner yards. Initially, Remontowa Shipbuilding S.A. in Gdańsk was part of the PGZ Miecznik consortium alongside PGZ S.A. and PGZ Naval Shipyard. On 14 June 2023, the Armament Agency was informed of Remontowa’s exit; Crist Shipyard in Gdynia has become the new main subcontractor.

Crist will build the bow block of the prototype 106/1, which will be transported across the Gdynia ship canal and joined in the new assembly hall with the mid and aft hull blocks being built by PGZ Naval Shipyard. Crist began cutting plates for the prototype’s bow block on 12th August 2024. For serial units 106/2 and 106/3, Crist will build both bow and stern hull blocks, while all superstructure sections for all three frigates will be made by PGZ Naval Shipyard.

The successful, on time, on budget delivery of the three Miecznik frigates is vital for the Polish Armed Forces and the maritime economy. We continue to monitor and analyze this program closely.