Poland bought weapons that caused panic in the Pentagon. A contract worth billions
For over three decades, the Orka program has been a symbol of unfulfilled promises, political disputes and subsequent canceled decisions. Today this story comes to an end. Poland has signed a contract for three modern submarines, which are intended not only to rebuild the capabilities of the Navy, but also to change the balance of power in the Baltic Sea.
In line with previous political declarations, at the end of June a series of agreements were signed in Gdynia, ending the long history of searching for a supplier of new submarines for the Navy. The conclusion of the Orka program is an undoubted success of the current management of the Ministry of National Defense, as well as of the Navy, which for the first time since the 1980s will receive units of this class straight from the shipyard.
The role of submarines in the modern world cannot be disputed. The mere presence in the region means that a potential enemy must prepare considerable resources to find it and, in the event of war, also to eliminate it. Additionally, the awareness that the rival has this type of units may influence tactical and strategic decisions. In this case, it is worth noting examples from regional conflicts – the sinking of an Iranian frigate by an American submarine this year led to a situation in which the Iranian Navy remained in ports and was (mostly) eliminated from the fight by air. In 1982, during the Falklands War, the British sinking of the Argentine cruiser General Belgrano also led to the withdrawal of the fleet to ports on the continent.
How Orca was pushed down
