The Polish Navy has been endeavouring to replace its submarines for some time and launched the "Orka" project in 2014. Since then, European naval shipbuilders have been trying in vain to secure an order. It was not until May 2023 that Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak announced his intention to initiate the purchase of submarines in 2023.
South Korea as an option?
According to a press release issued by South Korean company Hanwha Ocean on 29 November 2023, the company has held talks about a strategic partnership in Poland and presented its KSS-III submarine project. The 3,600-tonne boat is in service with the Republic of Korea Navy. Hanwha Ocean's offer includes not only the construction of the submarines and the usual training programme, but also the establishment of a centre for maintenance, repair and overhaul in Poland.
Remains of a flotilla
Only a single Russian Kilo-class submarine, the "ORP Orzeł", remains from the Polish submarine flotilla of formerly five units. The decommissioning of the four Norwegian Kobben-class submarines began in 2017 and was completed in 2021.
Modernisation of the fleet
The long-awaited modernisation of the Polish navy reached its first milestone in the summer of 2023. The steel for the first of three planned "Miecznik" class frigates was cut in Gdansk on 16 August. The ships are being built by a consortium of Babcock, Thales UK and MBDA UK with Remontowa Shipbuilding SA according to the "Arrowhead 140" design by Babcock International. MF reported.
Setback for Europe
South Korea presented an industrial policy vision in Warsaw: Hanwha Ocean outlined a strategic path for Poland's industry with cooperation extending beyond naval projects to commercial shipbuilding and offshore projects. The company also expressed its interest in the renewable energy sector and research and development in Poland.
Should the intentions materialise, this would represent a further setback for European defence cooperation. The background to this is a major defence deal agreed between Poland and South Korea in July 2022, the volume of which has not been disclosed. However, Seoul announced in August 2022 that the Polish government had ordered K2 tanks and K9 self-propelled howitzers. Strange behaviour from an ally.
In principle, the Poles are buying a class 214 submarine (tkMS). However, upscaled and customised by the Koreans 🙂
Poland is not ungrateful, it's just very realistic. The European national governments are just a joke made up of incompetence and detachment from reality.
There were enough requests from Poland for military products from NATO countries that were never fulfilled or never met Polish requirements? Why else did Poland choose the Korean solution? All a result of causes and effects!
Strong claim - very weak evidence!
The editorial team
Poland repeatedly attracts attention by going it alone, which is ungrateful to its European NATO partners and the EU. The money is taken from Brussels, then the donor states are criticised; and then arms contracts are awarded to non-European countries! Even if it is global competition for the cheapest prices (and possible licences), it is not solidarity! In contrast to the constantly criticised Hungarians, who buy from European manufacturers and also produce domestically (see Puma production).