The government in Warsaw is adding new frigates and submarines to its navy for the first time in decades, aiming to reverse the effects of years of underfunding. Poland’s current fleet includes a single Soviet-era submarine from 1986 and two 1970s-era U.S.-built frigates.
"The threat from Russia is spreading, and we cannot ignore its hybrid actions, such as cable sabotage," Deputy Defense Minister Paweł Bejda told the FT. "Poland must actively contribute to Baltic Sea security," he added.
Recent incidents—including suspected Russian sabotage of undersea cables and drone incursions into NATO airspace—have intensified regional concerns over hybrid warfare tactics.
In 2025, Poland spent 4.7% of its GDP on defense—the highest share among NATO members—directing tens of billions of dollars toward mostly U.S. and South Korean military equipment.
Naval upgrades include:
- The construction of three multi-role frigates under the “Miecznik” program at PGZ (Polish Armaments Group) Naval Shipyard in Gdynia, in partnership with British defense firm Babcock.
- The purchase of three submarines from Sweden, agreed in November.
- Commissioning of new mine destroyers and the construction of a submarine support vessel.
According to PGZ board member Jan Grabowski, the project is reviving the once-struggling Gdynia shipyard. “Thanks to new investments, the shipyard is rising like a phoenix from the ashes,” he said.
Babcock’s Mark Goldsack noted the cooperation has helped align the Gdynia yard with standards at the company’s Rosyth facility in the UK, where the Type 31 frigates—on which the Polish ships are based—are built.
The FT added that the UK and Poland are working toward a new defense cooperation agreement, with negotiations launched in January during British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to Warsaw.
(jh)
Source: PAP