Final configuration of first Miecznik frigate revealed a month before construction starts

A computer-generated image of the final configuration of the Polish Navy's first Miecznik frigate. (Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa)

One month ahead of the start of construction of Poland's first Miecznik (Swordfish)-class multimission frigate, the Polish Armaments Group (Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa: PGZ) has revealed the final configuration of the lead ship.

The Miecznik programme covers the design and build of three new multimission frigates based on Babcock's Arrowhead 140 design for the Polish Navy at local shipyards through a transfer-of-technology agreement. A consortium led by PGZ, and including Gdynia-based shipbuilders PGZ Naval Shipyard and Remontowa Shipbuilding, will be responsible for the delivery of the frigates.

According to information recently published in annexe No 3 of the contract signed between the Miecznik consortium and the Polish Armaments Agency (AA), the first vessel will be delivered with weapons, sensors, and a combat management system (CMS), but for the two following frigates, the weapons, sensors, and CMS will be purchased under an additional annexe or contract.

Speaking to Janes on 27 July PGZ Naval Shipyard's head of marketing communication was unable to disclose any details of the corresponding updated programme budget, however.

Under details revealed, the Project 106 prototype frigate will be fitted with four Mk 41 vertical launching system (VLS) modules, each being able to carry up to 32 MBDA CAMM Sea Ceptor missiles in eight canisters (or up to 128 quad-packed missiles) and eight Saab RBS 15 Mk3E anti-ship missiles on four racks (with an option to double).

Artillery systems include a single Leonardo Oto Melara 76/62 Super Rapid Strales main gun and two 35 mm OSU-35K cannons to be delivered by PGZ subsidiary PIT-RADWAR.