2025-11-24 14:20
publication
2025-11-24 14:20
Deputy Prime Minister and head of the Ministry of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz announced that on Wednesday the government was to make decisions regarding the Orka program, i.e. the purchase of submarines. The partner country and the main assumptions of the project may be announced this week during the Navy Day.
The head of the Ministry of National Defense announced on Monday in Kielce that final decisions regarding the Orka program are to be made during the government meeting to be held on Wednesday, and the relevant documents have already been sent to all ministers.
– I believe that this decision will be made this week, and at the end of the week we will have a great Navy Day in Świnoujście and we will be able to announce the partner country, project assumptions and conclude an agreement with this country this year and sign separate documents with the contractors at the beginning of next year – said Kosiniak-Kamysz.
The head of the Ministry of National Defense has repeatedly assured that a manufacturer with which Poland will cooperate will be selected by the end of this year. In mid-September, the government adopted a resolution on this issue; the decision to select a partner in the program is to be of an intergovernmental and strategic nature. Last week, the Task Force for the ORKA program prepared recommendations for the Council of Ministers.
Government spokesman Adam Szłapka emphasized that the purpose of preparing the recommendation is to find an offer that will not only be the best in relation to the needs of the army, but also for the Polish industry, especially in the area of technology transfer. When asked about the offers submitted by producers from various countries, the government spokesman assured that none of them was given preferential treatment and all of them were considered according to the same principles.
The Orka program is currently one of the most important modernization programs of the Polish Navy, which has been conducted for years. It envisages the purchase of several – most likely three – new submarines. In the current version of the program, producers from several countries submitted offers to Poland: Sweden, Germany, Italy, France, Spain and South Korea. A total of 7 producers from 6 countries submitted offers. The British government supported the Swedish offer prepared for Poland under the Orka program.
The head of the Ministry of National Defense also announced on Monday the quick announcement of a “large program to strengthen air defense.” This program is to be based on several pillars, including the Pilica, Narew and Wisła systems with Patriot batteries. The key element of the new system is to be anti-drone defense.
– We developed it together with the General Staff and the Armament Agency – said Kosiniak-Kamysz, emphasizing that financing for the program has been secured.
In the context of financing and developing the country's defense potential, the minister emphasized the role of European funds and the EU SAFE program – a preferential loan program worth EUR 150 billion. – Poland will benefit the most among all member states. Approximately EUR 44 billion is the pool that we can use – reminded Kosiniak-Kamysz.
He added that “final work is currently underway on formulating an application to the European Commission – a list of military expectations.” These funds are to be used not only to finance well-known projects, but also for new needs in cooperation with the ministries of infrastructure, internal affairs and digitalization. Ultimately, part of the funds from the SAFE program is to be allocated to co-financing modern IT systems and the most modern defense systems. (PAP)
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