Poland advances naval shipbuilding with new frigate and research vessel projects

Poland is moving forward with two major naval construction programmes. The first frigate of the Miecznik programme, ORP Wicher, is nearing the end of hull construction at PGZ Stocznia Wojenna in Gdynia. A launch ceremony is scheduled for 12 August 2026, with the ship to be handed over to the Polish Navy in 2029. The frigate will join two sister ships, ORP Burza and ORP Huragan, slated for delivery by 2031. All three vessels are based on the British Arrowhead 140 design from Babcock and will form the core of Poland’s combat fleet.

Separately, the Maritime University of Szczecin has issued a tender to design and build a new 100‑metre research and training ship. The project is funded with 625 million zł from a government programme, featuring a dual‑fuel propulsion system, ice class PC6, capacity for 86 crew and a 10,000‑nautical‑mile range. The tender closes on 6 October 2026, and the vessel will replace the ageing “Nawigator XXI”. Both initiatives are part of Poland’s broader effort to modernise its maritime capabilities.