PGZ SW, Nauta Shiprepair Yard team up on Polish Miecznik frigate program

May 25, 2026, by Fatima Bahtić

PGZ Stocznia Wojenna (PGZ SW) and Nauta Shiprepair Yard have signed an agreement for the construction of the GB02 aft block of the hull of the frigate ORP Burza, the second vessel being built under the Miecznik program for the Polish Navy.

The agreement was signed by Marcin Ryngwelski, President of the Management Board, and Beata Koniarska, Board Member of PGZ Naval Shipyard, as well as Monika Kozakiewicz, President of the Management Board of Nauta Shiprepair Yard.

The ceremony took place at the headquarters of Remontowa Nauta in Gdynia.

Subcontracting the construction of a block to an external partner is standard practice in the shipbuilding industry and a deliberate element of PGZ Naval Shipyard’s strategy. PGZ SW acts as the main contractor and integrator of the entire Miecznik program.

PGZ-Miecznik Consortium comprises Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ) and PGZ Stocznia Wojenna, under the largest contract in the history of the Polish shipbuilding industry. PGZ SW is responsible or design, technical supervision, and quality assurance of all three frigates simultaneously.

According to the company, engaging specialised partners for specific modules allows for an optimal distribution of production workload and adherence to construction schedules. A similar model was already applied in the first frigate, Wicher, whose bow block was built by CRIST Shipyard.

The construction of the vessel began back in May 2025, when the official steel-cutting ceremony took place.

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

Vessels

The participation of Nauta in the Miecznik program marks a new type of engagement for the Gdynia-based shipyard, a transition from servicing completed vessels to contributing to the construction of a warship from the ground up, the officials noted.

“We are proud to have joined the team working on the largest programme in the history of the Polish Navy – the construction of three multi-role frigates under the codename ‘Miecznik’. We thank the Naval Shipyard for inviting us to participate in this programme. This cooperation will allow us to leverage the synergy of our companies and the complementarity of our infrastructure and human resources. We are part of a team operating under the PGZ Group for the security of the State,” said Kozakiewicz.

The modern Miecznik frigates will be built at PGZ in cooperation with defense companies Babcock, MBDA, Thales, and 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.

The frigates will be capable of carrying out a wide range of naval missions. Their primary roles will include the protection and defence of critical offshore infrastructure, such as the Baltic Pipe gas pipeline, offshore wind farms, and telecommunications networks.

The vessels will also conduct maritime surveillance operations and provide the Polish Navy with advanced capabilities to engage surface, underwater, and aerial threats. In addition, the frigates will be tasked with protecting both national and allied naval forces during operations at sea.

The ships will support amphibious and landing operations, as well as humanitarian and disaster-relief missions. They will also provide protection and support for maritime transport routes and shipping operations.