On March 4, Babcock International’s Arrowhead 140 ship design was announced to be selected to equip the Polish Navy with a new class of frigates. This is further proof that Britain wants to strengthen its industrial ties with Poland. The London-based company announced that it had concluded a series of strategic cooperation partnering agreements with the PGZ-Miecznik consortium, which is responsible for delivering three frigates from shipyards in the Polish port of Gdynia.

As the U.K. Defence Procurement Minister Jeremy Quin stated following the design choice: “Poland is one of our oldest and closest allies, and we continue to strengthen our partnership to help deter future threats. The Arrowhead 140 frigate will be a formidable addition to Poland’s fleet, providing world-leading capabilities to Poland’s naval presence.”

Key systems suppliers in the Miecznik program are also announced: Thales UK, together with its local partner OBR CTM, will provide the TACTICOS combat management system, while MBDA UK’s Sea Ceptor missile will provide anti-air capabilities. Both suppliers are already part of the Babcock-led team building five Type 31 general-purpose frigates for the British Royal Navy using the Arrowhead 140 platform.

A more complete and detailed design and systems integration planning process for the Polish frigates is expected to conclude this year, with construction starting next year and completion of the first ship in 2028.

Babcock was also on its way to undertaking a significant rebuilding of Ukraine’s military and industrial capabilities before Russia launched an invasion on February 24. In mid-2021, the company signed a tripartite agreement with the British and Ukrainian governments to pursue a program upgrading existing military ships, building new vessels, and regenerating industrial capabilities. However, a spokesperson for Babcock declined to comment on the current status of the program beyond confirming the company had no employees in Ukraine at this time.

These two deals represent a continuing renaissance of British maritime exports, with Australia and Canada purchasing anti-submarine frigates based on BAE Systems’ Type 26, ordered by the British Royal Navy. An expected key element in refreshing the British government’s national shipbuilding strategy is a continuing export drive.

In the Polish agreement the ships will be built locally. That means that the assembly of the ships will take place in its shipbuilding hub in Gdynia. The selection of this design is the second major defence industry deal between the two nations. In fact, some months ago, the British and Polish governments announced a multibillion-pound agreement to develop a ground-based air defence system named Narew, which will use the same missile proposed for the frigates.

Bibliography:

Chuter A. (2022, March 4). Polish Navy chooses Arrowhead 140 design for new frigates. Retrived from: https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2022/03/04/polish-navy-chooses-arrowhead-140-design-for-new-frigates/