The “Orka” program is in its decisive phase. The Ministry of National Defense is considering alternatives to Swedish ships
The commission met to hear, at the request of a group of MPs, information from the Ministry of National Defense on the process of acquiring new submarines for the Navy under the “Orka” program.
Let's remind. At the end of last year, the long-awaited decision was made. After years of waiting, Poland decided to acquire modern submarines. The winner of the program was Sweden, offering A26-type ships currently being built for its navy, manufactured by Saab.
Poland would receive three such units, and until the first ones were delivered, the Swedes would provide Polish sailors with an older A17 unit so that they could train and maintain their skills.
“Orka” program. Ministry of National Defense on negotiations
Negotiations are currently underway regarding the actual order for Swedish ships, and they were the topic of Wednesday's meeting of the parliamentary national defense committee.
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Deputy Minister Stanisław Wziątek informed that: until the end of the negotiations – planned for the end of June – the Ministry of National Defense will not publicly inform about the progress of the talks, including during open sessions of parliamentary committees, and certainly not about the weapons with which the Polish submarines will be equipped. Wziątek only assured that these will be the most modern solutions available on the market.
He added that if “the submitted documents specifying the offer from the Swedish side will not be satisfactory, perhaps there will be no contract signed and we will proceed to further processing of other offers“.
He recalled that other countries also presented their offers. Including e.g. Italy, Germany, France and South Koreaand their offers were assessed and ranked by a special team analyzing them.
– But first, we are obliged to negotiate the best conditions with the supplier recommended to the Council of Ministers by the task force – emphasized Wziątek.
Read also: The UK supports the Swedish offer in the Orka program
He recalled that the team consisted of, among others, representatives of the Ministry of National Defense, the ministries of finance, economy and state assets, as well as the General Staff of the Polish Army and the Armament Agency.
The Navy is waiting for new submarines
The “Orka” program, which has been ongoing for many years, is one of the key modernization projects of the Polish Navy. Currently, Polish sailors have one obsolete ship, ORP “Orzeł”, built in 1985 in the USSR.
This unit has been regularly requiring repairs for several years.
Read also: The Ministry of National Defense is responsible for the purchase of submarines. The program “continues”
If the ship is withdrawn from service, without implementing the Swedish proposal to deliver the A17 unit, the Navy will not have equipment with which submarine sailors could train or maintain their skills.
