Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/1150145
Another decision that has an impact on the future of Ślązak was made by the next head of the MoD, Tomasz Siemoniak. He decided that works on the corvette shall be suspended completely, stating that savings should be created in the Polish defense budget, also pointing to the fact that the pro- gram's cost is continuously growing. The decision entailed a process in which solutions had to be found within the scope of the Ślązak's future. The hull was almost ready at that point. The analyzed scenarios covered a whole range of options, including scrapping of the vessel. Apart from this drastic option other variants were being con- sidered, including a search for a foreign customer who would like to acquire the hull. Another possible scenario assumed that the purpose of the vessel shall be changed and that it dicated (Thales), Bogdan Klich, the head of the MoD of that tiem, made a decision to limit the program. Lack of funds did not allow the MoD to sign an agreement for automatic bat- tle system which led to cancellation. To make matters even worse, the main contractor of the program, the Naval Ship- yard, announced bankruptcy during the very same year. In ex- treme case this would mean that the vessel would become an asset that could be used to pay back the debts. Despite those extremely unfortunate circumstances, the building process was not suspended. Over the next few years the superstructures were created and works vbeing contin- ued on the propulsion system. www.fragoutmag.com