On the day when the first sheet metal for the second frigate Miecznik was ceremoniously burned, i.e. May 5, 2024, PGZ Stocznia Wojenna presented a video of the construction of the first unit of this type and made it possible to see the progress of the prototype construction in the new assembly hall.
The frigate with the shipyard construction number 106/1 has been under construction since August 16, 2023, when the first sheet metal was ceremonially cut into it. The keel for the future Wind was laid a few months later on January 31, 2024. The current plan is to launch it in the third quarter of 2026 and hand it over to the Navy in the third quarter of 2028.
PGZ Naval Shipyard is already completing the process of major changes. Its area has decreased (the rest was sold to the Ministry of National Defense), and above all, both the shipyard infrastructure and the equipment with machinery are being modernized. The most visible effect of this was the construction of a large assembly hall. Despite this, from the very beginning, the construction of Mieczniki was planned to involve shipyard partners. Initially, in the PGZ-Miecznik Consortium, in addition to PGZ S.A. and PGZ Naval Shipyard, there was also Remontowa Shipuilding in Gdańsk. However, on June 14, 2023, the Armament Agency was informed about the change in the composition of the consortium and the exit of the Remontowa Shipbuilding S.A. shipyard.
The Wichra midship block is being built in an old two-nave hall.
Author. Jarosław Ciślak/Defence24.pl
For prototype No. 106/1, Crist builds sections of the bow block of the hull. They will be transported to the other side of the Gdynia port canal and connected, in the newly built assembly hall, with the sections of the midship block and the stern of the hull and the superstructure built there by PGZ Stocznia Wojenna. The Crist shipyard started the first sheet metal burning for its part of frigate No. 106/1 on August 12, 2024.
Currently, the sections of the midship block and the stern of Wichra (in the title drawing in green) are already made. As early as August 2025, further sections of the bow block (in the light gray drawing) will be completed. In September, further sections of the superstructure in the amidships area will be ready (in the drawing in light blue), and in October the stern sections (in the drawing in orange). In the first quarter of 2026, the remaining sections of the superstructure, masts and chimneys (yellow in the drawing) will be completed.
Midships block on self-propelled multi-wheel transport platforms in the yard yard before sandblasting and painting.
Author. PGZ Naval Shipyard
The sections described above are and will be delivered to the assembly hall. They will be merged into a whole there. Thanks to the considerable height of the new assembly hall, the entire body of the frigate will be built inside. Of course, the most important thing is the ship’s equipment. Its assembly can take place in individual sections or in the assembly hall or on water after launching. The best solution is to complete the equipment as much as possible before this operation. Doing it indoors is more comfortable and easier than on the water. But on the other hand, this hall will soon be needed to assemble the second unit, i.e. Burza.
Currently, the Crist shipyard, after completing the commissioned hull sections, accepts further orders from PGZ Naval Shipyard for their partial equipment at home. Thanks to this, they will be sent to the other side of the channel to the PGZ Naval Shipyard at a higher level of readiness than assumed and will be able to be better and faster integrated with the part of the frigate being built there.
Construction dates of the 106 Miecznik project frigates.
Author. Author’s list
The first sheet of metal for Burza was cut on May 5 this year, and the keel laying under it is planned for the fourth quarter of 2025. The keel, just like the prototype, will be laid in the old hall of the shipyard built in the 80s of the twentieth century. At this point, it is worth explaining that the ship is assembled in the assembly hall, as the name suggests. On the other hand, individual spatial ship sections are built in this older hall (two-nave), and the flat sections and the processing of sheet metal and sections in yet another hall and in the Crist shipyard.
Both ships, i.e. Wicher and Burza, are built on specially built technological beds by the shipyard. Such a bed also stands on supports. The height of these supports allows self-propelled multi-wheel transport platforms to enter between them. After entering, these platforms rise, lifting the entire structure, i.e. the hull with the technological bed. Then the structure can be transported from the section prefabrication hall to the shipyard yard. There, the platforms leave the constructionwhich can be sandblasted and painted under the prepared tent. The structure can then be transported to the assembly hall in the same way. In the next stage of work, thanks to the cranes installed in the hall, it is possible to assemble further decks and storeys of the frigate.
PGZ Stocznia Wojenna will build two technological beds for three frigates. One will be used in the construction of the 106/1 and 106/3 units, and the other in the construction of the 106/2.
In a similar way, the frigate will also be transported for launching. On a set of self-propelled multi-wheeled transport platforms, it will be moved to a specially brought for this purpose self-submersible ship. Its use is forced by the height of the supports enabling the entry under the frigate of the aforementioned transport platforms and the height of the quay at the PGZ Naval Shipyard. It seems that it is not possible to move the frigate to a pontoon and launch it from a pontoon in the shipyard area. After loading onto a self-submersible vessel, the entire set will have to leave the port of Gdynia, and the entire launching will have to take place in the waters of the Gulf of Gdańsk. In the port of Gdynia, it is too shallow for that. After launching, the frigate will be towed to the shipyard, where outfitting work will continue at the quay.
Integration of the hull of the Wicher frigate with a clearly visible technological bed and supports under it.
Author. PGZ Naval Shipyard
It is also worth remembering that after launching, the frigate will not go back to the assembly hall, and when there is a need to do some work on the underwater part of the hull, the floating dock of the PGZ Naval Shipyard will be used for this purpose.
This is roughly what the technology of building Miecznik in the shipyard looks like. The launches of the three frigates are planned for the three quarters of 2026, 2027 and 2028, respectively. The exact dates will be determined later. They will be the result of the hull’s readiness for launching and the degree of their equipment, and the need to vacate the assembly hall in order to enter it and continue work on it.
A view from the bow side of the assembled sections of the Wichera hull in the new hall of the PGZ Naval Shipyard.
Author. PGZ Naval Shipyard
It turns out that during the implementation of the Miecznik frigate construction project itself, annex no. 5 to the contract has already been signed. This took place on July 31, 2024. Annex No. 5 concerned, among other things, changes in the weapon system, i.e. the replacement of RBS-15 Mk 3 anti-ship missiles with NSM missiles. The annex did not change either the contract terms or the contract price. Currently, another annex is being prepared. It is needed in order to put many things in order. As a reminder, after Annex No. 5, serial units No. 106/2 and 106/3 are still not ordered; OSU-35K small-caliber cannons with ZGS-35K optoelectronic heads, manually guided and remote-controlled machine guns, STIR 1.2 EO Mk2 fire control radar, CAPTAS-2 towed sonar, Sentinel IDS sonar for detecting divers and the Kora integrated electronic warfare system.
The price after Annex No. 5 is already PLN 14.8 billion gross and it includes the construction of three frigates, but does not include the price of on-board helicopters or missiles, torpedoes, ammunition for them, which will have to be ordered under separate contracts.
A view from the stern of the assembled hull Wichera with clearly visible (yellow) cranes, which are elements of the equipment of the new shipyard hall.
Author. PGZ Naval Shipyard
The construction of the serial 106/2 and 106/3 units assumes a greater participation of the Crist shipyard than is the case on the prototype. For Storm and Hurricane, Crist Shipyard will build both bow blocks and stern hull blocks. On the other hand, the PGZ Naval Shipyard will build midship blocks and superstructure sections.
During the recent Defence24 Days 2025, the PGZ-Miecznik consortium and the ordering party, i.e. the Armament Agency, assured that the implementation of the Miecznik project is going according to plan and that it is impossible to speed up their construction. On the other hand, the Polish Navy is waiting for the transfer of these frigates as soon as possible and the purchase of carrier-based helicopters, missiles and torpedoes for them. In addition, it is necessary to prepare the MK 41 launchers for CAMM-ER anti-aircraft missiles and to develop CAMM-MR missiles with an even longer range.
The implementation of the construction of these ships within the currently assumed deadlines is crucial for Polish’s defense capabilities from the sea. Therefore, we will monitor it on an ongoing basis.
