The Baltic as the interior sea of NATO, the key function of the commercial fleet in operational activities and advancement in the implementation of the programmes "Orka" and "Meaner" – are any of the topics discussed during the debate in the framework of the Baltexpo fair launched in Gdańsk. The request to further safeguard maritime transport routes and defend critical infrastructure was peculiarly stressed.
Operation Baltic Sentry. Illustration picture.
The constant provocations from the Russian Federation have caused the safety subject to be powerfully stressed in the programme of this year's fair.
The participants of the debate organized on the first day of the global Maritime and Military Fair Baltexpo in Gdańsk discussed maritime safety as an component of State security. “The defence of the territorial sea, monitoring, patrolling, escorting valuable units are the tasks on which the Polish Navy is presently focusing,” he said during the Viceadm meeting. Jarosław Ziemański, Naval Inspector at the General Command of the Polish Army. As he stressed, to do this effectively, we must have certain types of ships, another vessels and aircraft. Viceadm. He added that we are heading this way, we want to modernize the equipment we already have, but besides build military capabilities where we see their shortcomings.
In turn, the counter-adventure. Piotr Nieć, deputy commander of the CTF (Commander Task Force) Baltic in Rostok, paid peculiar attention to the issue of the Baltic seen as NATO's interior sea. "The accession of Sweden and Finland to NATO was a kind of euphoria that now the Baltic becomes our interior sea, and Russia has nothing to say here. Unfortunately, we shortly found out that it was a small different than we said – he said counter-dense. Yeah.
The counter Admiral stressed that NATO has a large advantage in terms of possible and capabilities in the Baltic region during the war. “Our dominance puts us in a privileged position,” said the officer. He added that the situation at sea in times of crisis and peace was much more difficult. The officer besides referred to the Baltic Sentry mission aimed at monitoring and strengthening the capacity to respond to any destabilising activity and many threats in the Baltic Sea area.
The CTF deputy commander besides pointed out that the mission is effective in terms of critical infrastructure protection, but a separate challenge is the issue of responding to frequent incidents involving Russian aircraft, fleet of shadows or drones in fresh months.
Øystein Bø, ambassador to the Kingdom of Norway in Poland, besides referred to maritime safety, noting that it depends not only on naval ships. “Our experience from 2 planet wars shows how crucial the trade fleet is in providing resources and resources,” said Bø. The diplomat recalled that the Norwegian civilian fleet consists of 1,800 vessels that can “carry the full U.S. Army at once”. Øystein Bø acknowledged that he besides saw large possible for cooperation in securing the Baltic Sea in peculiar between allied air and land forces. "From our point of view, maritime safety is simply a key component of national safety and an integral part of it. We must besides keep control of the North Atlantic in order to guarantee freedom of action and the effectiveness of the defence," said Bø.
New ships
During the debate, much space was besides devoted to the issue of the acquisition of fresh capabilities by the Polish Navy. Viceadm. Earthling mentioned here the “Orca” program concerning the acquisition of 3 submarines, but did not give any details. Inspector MW did not confirm or deny that the answer to the question: “Who will build the Polish Orka?” we will meet on 28 November, that is on the day of the Navy. Let us remind that according to earlier announcements by Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, Deputy Prime Minister and Head of the MON, the selection of the entity carrying out the order for these ships is to take place before the end of the year.
There have besides been talks about the advancement made in the implementation of the “Meaner” programme, which is intended to consequence in the construction of 3 modern frigates. As kmdr rez confirmed. Grzegorz Sowa, Deputy manager of the Department of improvement of the Polish Armed Forces Group SA, on 19 November at Gdynia War Shipyard, will be placed a keel for the second ship from this program – ORP “Burza”.
At the beginning of December, the first frigate – ORP ‘Wicher’, which is present in the neighbouring Crist Shipyard, will be placed in the hull hall. – Even then you will be able to see the form of the ship, yet without superstructures, but in real form and size – Sowa said.
A typical of PGZ-etu explained that the first unit was to be transferred to qualifying tests in 2029. How long will it take? I don't know. The owl suggested a period of six months, but without making a final declaration. The investigation will include, among others, specified systems which are only in the prototype or conceptual phase and will be delivered in due time by the partners of the War Shipyard.
The Owl besides pointed out that the transfer of the unit for investigation does not mean the taking over of the ship by the Navy, and even more so by full operational readiness. After tests, the training process of crews will begin, which will learn from scratch a fresh kind of weaponry. On the another hand, Grzegorz Sowa confirmed that the launch of the first ship is scheduled for August 2026. The second and 3rd units, which will no longer gotta undergo the same investigation as the ORP "Wicher", are to be ready in 2030 and 2031.
