Construction begins on Polish Navy’s second Miecznik-class frigate

Polish shipbuilder PGZ Stocznia Wojenna (PGZ SW) has started the construction of the second Miecznik-class frigate being built for the Polish Navy.

As disclosed, the shipyard held a steel-cutting ceremony for the vessel ORP Burza in Gdynia on May 5, 2025.

In order to be able to respond to global defense challenges, Poland has launched a program to acquire three multi-role frigates, code-named ‘Miecznik’. The modern Miecznik frigates will be built at PGZ in cooperation with defense companies Babcock, MBDA, Thales, Remontowa Shipbuilding, as part of the largest contract ever awarded to the Polish shipbuilding industry. 

The vessels, based on Babcock’s Arrowhead 140 ship design, will be 138 meters long, with a width of 20 meters. The maximum displacement will be 7,000 tons, while the maximum speed will be 28 knots. They will be able to accommodate 120 persons plus 60 additional personnel.

Miecznik frigates will perform a wide range of tasks at sea, including:

• Protection and defence of offshore installations (Baltic Pipe, wind farms, telecommunications)
• Surveillance of maritime areas,
• Combatting surface targets,
• Combatting underwater targets,
• Combating air targets,
• Protection of own and allied forces,
• Support for landing operations,
• Support for humanitarian operations,
• Support for maritime transports.

The keel for the first frigate was laid in 2024, while the ship will be launched by 2026, and the navy expects that the frigate will enter service in 2029.

Multi-purpose units of this class are anticipated to increase the capabilities of the Polish Navy and will allow the implementation of a wide range of tasks at sea, including in the field of securing shipping routes and critical infrastructure.