Poland christens first Miecznik-class frigate ORP Wicher in Gdynia

Ceremony in Gdynia

On Wednesday, 12 August 2026, Poland christened ORP Wicher, the first of three Miecznik-class multirole frigates, at PGZ Stocznia Wojenna in Gdynia. President Karol Nawrocki, Prime Minister Donald Tusk, and Deputy Defence Minister Magdalena Sobkowiak-Czarnecka attended the naming ceremony, joined by British Minister of State for Defence Lord Vernon Coaker, British Ambassador Dame Melinda Simmons, and Defence Attaché Chris Brown. The actual launching is planned for the following day, 13 August. ORP Wicher will not enter service until 2029, with the final vessel, ORP Huragan, expected around the turn of 2031 and 2032.

A 15-billion-zloty program

The Miecznik program, the largest modernisation effort in the history of the Polish Navy, carries a total cost of approximately 15 billion zlotys. It envisions three frigates: ORP Wicher, ORP Burza, and ORP Huragan, replacing obsolete Oliver Hazard Perry-class vessels. The design is based on the Arrowhead 140 platform from British defence contractor Babcock, with significant Polish industrial participation. Tomasz Limon, president of Pracodawcy Pomorza, noted that the project involves cooperating shipyards including Nauta and Crist, and has increased employment across the sector. Andrzej Chmielecki, vice president of the Port of Gdynia, described the construction rhythm as entering a "takt" mode, with vessels delivered in successive phases annually.

Political speeches and cross-party credit

Nawrocki called the ceremony a "milestone" and thanked former defence minister Mariusz Błaszczak for the decisions of July 2021, when the Miecznik contract was signed. He also acknowledged the current government's continuation of the program.

“Using the successes, ideas, and work of one's predecessors in a democratic system is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of responsibility toward Polish sailors and Polish soldiers.”

Sobkowiak-Czarnecka echoed the cross-party theme, noting that key decisions were taken during earlier governments led by Tusk, then under Błaszczak in the PiS government, and now under Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz. She also announced that Sweden had been selected as partner for the Orka submarine program, and that once the Polish orders are complete, the Gdynia shipyards could begin building frigates for allied nations for export.

Baltic security and Russian threat

Both Nawrocki and Tusk framed the frigates within the broader security context of the Baltic Sea. Nawrocki warned that the Baltic is not fully a NATO internal waterspace, citing the Russian Baltic fleet, the militarised Kaliningrad oblast, the "shadow fleet," and Russian submarines. He described the Polish Navy as fighting a "hybrid war" every day.

“A Polish sailor, a Polish soldier, Polish special forces will always fight for the beautiful Polish Baltic Sea, which is ours and which we share with our allies from Scandinavia and the Baltic states.”

Tusk said the investments respond to the need to defend Polish infrastructure in the Baltic, including ports, a nuclear power plant, offshore installations, and a rebuilding fleet. He declared that Poland would become a maritime power, including in the military dimension, and that a potential aggressor would think twice before taking hostile action against a navy equipped with vessels like ORP Wicher and future submarines under the Orka program. Nawrocki urged the government to reach 5% of GDP in defence spending, noting that Lithuania plans to allocate 5.38% of GDP to defence in 2026.