The Ministry of National Defense responds to the purchase of submarines. The plowing program “continues”
The current edition of the Orka program was initiated in 2023, when the then Minister of Defense Mariusz Błaszczak announced the proceedings for the purchase of submarines.
11 entities came to the proceedings, primarily from Europe – from France, Spain, Italy, Germany and Sweden – as well as from South Korea.
The successor of Mariusz Błaszczak in the Ministry of National Defense, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, declared at the end of 2024 that “we would do everything to sign a contract in 2025 for modern submarines'
In the following months, the armament agency dealing in military equipment purchased completed offers. The highest grades, as reported by the Ministry of Defense, They received offers from Germany, Sweden and Italy (in alphabetical order), while not excluding any of the other offers. The deputy head of the monitor of the National Monsom Paweł Bejda went to the shipyard in these three countries over the past months..
OPERATION letter of the crew of ORP “Sokół” to the Ministry of National Defense
Last week, the issue of the Orka program gained a new pace. This is due to the open letter to the Minister of National Defense, which was published on the Social Platform X, the former crew of one of the Polish submarines, one of the cobben, with the service of the Kobbben – ORP “Sokoł”.
Sailors in a letter wrote that “In the face of a dynamically changing security environment in the Baltic Sea region, further delaying of the decision (on the purchase of submarines – PAP) becomes a serious threat to the interests of Poland and maritime security of the state“.
“We, crew members of the ORP Sokół (…) Call the Polish government to take urgent and specific actions aimed at rebuilding the underwater forces of the Navy. The time of honorary declarations has passed – the moment has come” – we read.
The Ministry of National Defense responds to the Orka Program
He reacted to the crew of the crew of “Sokol” in the Ministry of Defense published on portal x. Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz signed under it ensures that he agrees with the opinion of the crew of “Sokol” and that “Currently, the management of the Ministry of National Defense does not avoid the decision“.
“An advanced, multi -stage process aimed at choosing a submarine contractor” – he wrote.
According to the Ministry of National Defense, the Armaments Agency after examining the market and collecting offers submitted full documentation – hardware requirements and enforcement study, containing analyzes and recommendations, to the Council of Technical Modernization, i.e. the body operating at the Ministry of National Defense, which includes, among others Coordination of arms policy.
“Currently, in accordance with the procedure in force on the projects of this scale and meaning, we conduct intergovernmental consultations – in the G2G formula (Government -TO -GOVERNMENT) – with potential partners taking into account not only the technical values of offers, but also guarantees of security safety, service support, technology transfer and long -term strategic cooperation” – the Ministry of Defense informed.
On Monday, the Rzeczpospolita daily wrote that “Contrary to government declarations, there is no chance that Poland will sign a contract for the purchase of submarines by the end of the year. There is no longer a guarantee that this year there will be a selection of the state from which we want to buy them“
Orka program. Signing the contract this year
“At the current stage of consultation, the risk of appeals is not identified,” said the Ministry of National Defense in a published communiqué.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, dear unbelievers. I would like to inform you that the Orka program is and will continue. We do everything to ensure that the contract for acquiring submarines is signed in the year. Even if there are those who do not believe it or keep their fingers crossed so that we fail ” – assured on Monday on the portal of X Bejda.
Acquiring new submarines is – next to the already ordered and emerging frigate Miecznik – the most urgent matter when it comes to maintaining and developing the ability of the Polish Navy in the coming years.
Currently, Polish sailors have one completely outdated ORP “Orzeł” ship, built in 1985 in the USSR. For several years, this ship regularly requires repairs – and in the case of its possible withdrawal from service in MW, there will be no equipment on which they could train or even maintain the ability of the sailors of submarines.
As part of the Orka program, the Polish Army defined the abilities that new submarines are to provide with the army. Such units are to be able to immerse deeper than 200 m under the water surface, and also be able to act autonomous (without wrapping to the port or external support) for min. 30 days.
In addition, plowing is to be armed with torpedoes for combating hostile surface and underwater ships, as well as rocket launchers, allowing the targets of the enemy on the coast, or even – depending on the type of weapons – in the depths of the land.
