Contract for the delivery of three ‘Miecznik’ frigates signed!

In four years’ time, the first frigate will be built under the contract signed between the PGZ-Miecznik consortium and the Armament Inspectorate, National Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said. This is the largest contract in the history of the Polish arms industry.

On Tuesday, July 27th at the PGZ Military Shipyard, Minister Mariusz Blaszczak approved the agreement signed by the Consortium PGZ-Miecznik and the Armament Inspectorate for the delivery of three frigates under the Miecznik program included in the Technical Modernization Plan of the Polish Armed Forces.

These modern vessels will provide the Polish Navy with new operational capabilities, necessary to perform a wide range of activities at sea. It is also a huge development opportunity for PGZ Shipyard and private entities involved in its implementation. The PGZ-Miecznik Consortium consists of: Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa SA, PGZ Stocznia Wojenna Sp. z o.o. and Remontowa Shipbuilding SA from the Remontowa Holding group.

The signed contract provides for the design, construction and delivery of three frigate class surface ships with the Integrated Combat System (IWS) between 2021 and 2034. The value of the entire order, including the fire units and logistic package amounts to around 8 billion PLN, which makes it the largest contract in the history of the Polish arms industry. The perspective for the completion of the project is 2034.

I expect that the construction process will be as fast as in the case of the Kormoran type mine destroyers, built at Remontowa Shipbuilding SA. It is a showcase of the capabilities and capacities of the Polish defence industry and at the same time it proves that it is possible to build ships in Poland, which are very well appreciated by Polish sailors. I am convinced that it will be also the case of the three multi-purpose frigates – said Minister Mariusz Blaszczak.

As he added, the frigates will be built in response to the needs of the Polish Navy.

They will be units which can be compared with the fire squadron of the Maritime Missile Unit and with the Patriot battery – said the Minister of National Defence adding that the newly built units will constitute a significant force on the Baltic Sea whose role will be primarily to defend the Polish coast.

We have a precisely defined work plan, the tasks are described in detail. By the end of November, the Consortium will have prepared three conceptual designs (red. ship platform with the Integrated Combat System (ISMS) together with proposals for technology transfer, establishment of production potential and the valuation and schedule of deliveries, which will be supported by offers from foreign sub-suppliers). Then, no later than the turn of 2021/2022, the best one will be selected, taking into account military requirements and costs, Minister Blaszczak said.

The second stage is the preparation of an updated industrial feasibility study (IFS) and preliminary design on the basis of the originally selected one. It is here that the transfer of technology and knowledge will begin as well as the preparation of the potential to start production – at this stage the assumptions for the construction of the prototype of the Miecznik ship together with the ZSW – the first unit of the series – will be established.

After the qualification tests are completed the third stage will be commenced, i.e. the production of two serial vessels together with logistic packages covering the production of the base for current service of the vessels together with the warehouse for spare parts for key subassemblies and subsystems of the vessels – the packages will be delivered for all three vessels. Additionally, an element of this stage will be the delivery of complete packages of combat assets for all three Swordfish.

Implementation of the project in Poland will create approximately 2,000 jobs in shipyards, defence companies and other industries directly involved in the project. The acquired competences will allow new capabilities to be developed and will help in the work on other projects for the Polish Navy.

rel. Agnieszka Latarska/ PortalMorski.pl

Photos: Sławomir Lewandowski / PortalMorski.pl