The birth of a sea power. A historic day for Poland
ORP “Wicher”, the first of three frigates of the “Miecznik” program, entered the waters of the Bay of Gdańsk. This is the future combat pillar of the Polish fleet.
The launching of ORP “Wicher” began on Thursday morning. The over 140-meter hull was transported on a special semi-submersible barge and then lowered into the water in a controlled manner. According to representatives of the PGZ Shipyard, it was one of the most demanding operations in the history of the Polish shipbuilding industry. The launching ended a several-stage cycle, which also included the presentation of the hull and the unit’s baptism on Wednesday. The ceremony was attended by President Karol Nawrocki, Prime Minister Donald Tusk and representatives of the Navy.
The “Miecznik” program will change the Polish Navy
ORP “Wicher” is the first of three frigates being built as part of the “Miecznik” program. The next units will be named ORP “Burza” and ORP “Huragan”. The project is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2031. This is currently the largest modernization program for the Polish Navy. The new ships are to replace two worn-out Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates, which began service in the American fleet in 1980 and later came to Poland.
The contract for the construction of Mieczniki was signed in 2021. Its initial value was approximately PLN 8 billion, but after the annexes it increased to approximately PLN 15 billion at the end of 2023.
CAMM missiles and a range of over 200 km
The design of the frigates is based on the British Arrowhead 140 design, adapted to the requirements of the Polish army. One of their most important tasks will be anti-aircraft defense. The ships will be equipped with CAMM and CAMM-ER missile launchers.
There will also be guns on board capable of hitting targets up to 40 km away and anti-ship missiles with a range exceeding 200 km.
What tasks will ORP “Wicher” receive?
The new frigates are intended to protect shipping lanes and energy infrastructure. They will also perform tasks within the Standing NATO Ship Teams. Thanks to their multi-role armament, they are to become the basic fighting force of the Polish fleet.
