Navantia continues to compete for new Polish frigates

The Spanish shipyard Navantia has advanced to the next round in the battle for the contract to build frigates for the Polish Navy. Apart from Navantia, only two other competitors have a chance of winning the contract. The Polish Navy would like to replace its two US-built frigates with modern units. The 3rd ship flotilla currently includes the General Kazimierz Pulaski and the General Tadeusz Kościuszko two ships taken over by the Americans from the Oliver-Hazard-Perry-class from the late seventies, which are actually due to be decommissioned in 2024.
To support Polish shipbuilding, the three new frigates are to be built in the country itself. The PGZ shipyard in Gdynia has been selected for this purpose. The necessary technology transfer is to be provided by the shipyard that receives the order. In a next step, the design of the F-100 proposed by Navantia will be adapted to Polish wishes and requirements. A final decision on the award of the construction contract is expected next year. If everything goes as planned, the new ships could be delivered from 2035. This is the most expensive defence project that Poland has ever initiated.
In addition to the Spanish navy (Álvaro-de-Bazán-class) are also owned by Norway (Fridtjof-Nansen-class) and Australia (Hobart-With a length of 147 metres, they displace 5800 tonnes. Their standard crew consists of around 200 soldiers. The units sailing with the Spanish Navy are armed with a 48-cell vertical launching system that can carry SM-2s, Evolved SeaSparrow and Tomahawks. In addition, there are two quad launchers for the Harpoon anti-ship missile and a 127 millimetre Mk-45 cannon from BAE Systems on the rear.

Text: mb; Photo: Navantia