This is an important day for the Polish Navy. A christening ceremony for ORP “Wicher” was held in Gdynia. It is the first of three modern frigates being built as part of the Miecznik programme. The ship is being constructed at PGZ Naval Shipyard and is set to become one of the key elements of Poland’s naval forces.
Wicher will be 138.7 metres long, have a displacement of approximately 7,000 tonnes, and will be capable of reaching speeds of up to 28 knots. The ship will have a range of around 7,000 nautical miles, with a crew of approximately 120.
This multi-purpose frigate will be tasked, among other things, with protecting Polish waters, countering threats from the air, surface and underwater, and providing protection for other naval units. Wicher will be equipped with, among other systems, air defence systems and anti-ship missiles.
The construction of the three frigates under the Miecznik programme is one of the largest modernisation projects in the history of the Polish Navy.
Watch Agnieszka Pomaska’s video from the event:
