Miecznik programme director: construction of frigate on schedule

Construction of the Miecznik (Swordfish) frigate is progressing according to schedule, the programme is contributing to changes at the Naval Shipyard, said Miecznik programme director Cezary Cierzan, who took part in the Maritime Safety Forum in Warsaw on Thursday.

He recalled that in the programme to deliver three vessels to the Navy, the first plates are scheduled to be cut in August this year. An update on the programme is to be presented in the coming days regarding the acceleration of the completion of two more ships.

“We are implementing the programme in accordance with the schedule agreed with the contracting authority – the Armament Agency. We are now moving into the construction phase, we are formalising some arrangements with the AU, but the work has been going on continuously for two years,” – Cierzan pointed out. “In August we start the construction phase with the symbolic burning of the first metal sheets. In the first quarter of 2024, we plan to lay the keel – two large bottom sections already prepared, in 2026 the first ship should be in the water and start trials, tests and acceptances, in order to raise the flag on it in 2028 and in 2029 complete the final tests of, for example, missile armament – these tests cannot be carried out by the industry,” – he added.

He noted that a frigate-class ship is made up of around half a million components, with around 20 million links between them.

He stressed that the Polish state has never in its history had such a strong combat system as the Miecznik, and the reconnaissance and weapons systems provided for the frigate allow it to observe and combat targets on water, underwater, in the air and on land. He also highlighted the industrial benefits associated with the programme such as the construction of a new hull construction hall at the PGZ-owned Gdynia Naval Shipyard.

The Swordfish’s sensors are to consist of several layers, ranging from very short range to radar with a range of more than 400 km.

The combat system will also be multi-layered. The main weapon system will be a universal vertical launcher for missiles of various types, including cruise missiles. The ship will be armed with anti-aircraft CAMM missiles from the British branch of the MBDA group, with ranges from 25 km, through 45 km, to missiles with ranges in excess of 100 km, which are in the concept stage. The Swordfish will also carry cannons with a range of 40 km and anti-ship missiles capable of striking at a range of 200 km.

The vessel will be equipped with four 5 MW power generators, will be powered by four diesel engines, will be able to embark 190 people and will have a maximum displacement of 7,000 tonnes. Maximum speed will be 26 knots, optimum cruise speed – 12 knots.

Helicopters are also to be based on the frigates.

The Swordfish frigate is being built in cooperation with the UK government and industry. The contract between the Armaments Inspectorate of the Ministry of Defence and the PGZ Miecznik consortium was signed in 2021. The current schedule calls for the delivery of three ships by 2033.

Source: PortalMorski.pl