Work on the new signals-intelligence (SIGINT) ship officially began with a steel-cutting ceremony in the Baltic port of Gdańsk, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
The intelligence vessel will be named ORP Henryk Zygalski, after the distinguished Polish mathematician who played a significant role in deciphering the German Enigma code during World War II, officials said.
The ORP Henryk Zygalski is the second of two SIGINT ships that are being built for the Polish navy at the Remontowa Shipbuilding shipyard in Gdańsk, the PAP news agency reported.
Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak said the two intelligence vessels would "strengthen the Polish Navy" and "boost the Polish Army's capacity to carry out electronic reconnaissance at sea."
Jacek Siewiera, the head of President Andrzej Duda's National Security Bureau (BBN), said that the expansion of the Polish navy "is one of the key aspects of strengthening Poland's capability to defend and protect critical infrastructure."
Poland signed a EUR 620 million contract with Sweden's Saab for the design, construction, delivery and logistics support of two SIGINT ships as part of the Delfin (Dolphin) programme for its navy in November last year, the PAP news agency reported.
The ships are expected to be delivered in 2027.
(pm/gs)
Source: IAR, PAP, Portal Obronny