Poland christens first Miecznik frigate ORP Wicher as Tusk declares future maritime power status

Christening ceremony in Gdynia

Prime Minister Donald Tusk visited PGZ Stocznia Wojenna in Gdynia on 12 August for the christening and naming ceremony of ORP Wicher, the first of three multi-role frigates being built for the Polish Navy under the Miecznik program. The ceremony was also attended by President Karol Nawrocki and Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz. The actual launching of the vessel is scheduled for 13 August, described by PGZ Stocznia Wojenna authorities as one of the most demanding engineering operations in the Polish shipbuilding industry, involving transport of the ship and its controlled lowering onto water using a semi-submersible barge.

Tusk recalled the origins of the program, saying he remembered the years 2013 and 2014, when the Miecznik and Kormoran projects were born. He said many years had to pass before reaching this moment, and that the Polish shipbuilding industry, both civilian and military, is now a reason for pride, providing thousands of jobs and involving advanced technologies.

'We will be a maritime power'

Tusk used the ceremony to outline an ambitious vision for Poland's naval future. He said Poland could soon become the most important player on the Baltic Sea, with continued investment in new vessels including submarines.

We will be, I do not hesitate to use this word, a maritime power, also in military terms. There are few units of this type that we will have at our disposal, they are prepared for the challenges of the 21st century.

He added that a potential aggressor would think many times before taking hostile actions, knowing Poland possesses capabilities such as ORP Wicher, subsequent frigates under construction, and submarines in the Orka program. Tusk also said that even the British "looked with envy" at the Polish version of the frigate.

Defensive purpose and Baltic infrastructure

The prime minister stressed that the construction of the new vessels serves exclusively defensive purposes, not offensive ones. He said the frigates are being built to prevent conflicts, not to prepare for war, and that the presence of such units on the Polish Baltic makes infrastructure investments much safer.

Tusk identified specific assets requiring protection: ports, a planned nuclear power plant, offshore installations, and a rebuilding fleet. He said all of this compels Poland to treat the Baltic as its own sea, one that requires defense. He also assessed that the projects represent a strengthening of military cooperation with Scandinavian and Baltic states.

Program scope and design

The Miecznik program is currently the largest modernization program of the Polish Navy. Its goal is to build three modern multi-role frigates that will become the primary combat force of the Polish fleet, replacing obsolete Oliver Hazard Perry-class vessels. The total value of the program is 15 billion PLN, with completion of the entire program planned by the end of 2031.

The frigates are based on the British Arrowhead 140 design, adapted to requirements specified by the Polish military. The project involves the PGZ Miecznik consortium, established under the auspices of PGZ, together with foreign partners. Construction of the next two frigates, ORP Burza and ORP Huragan, will begin in the near future. Tusk emphasized that the participation of Polish enterprises in the construction of ORP Wicher was "absolutely fundamental," even though foreign firms were also involved.