Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/1467328
with 6 proposed designs based on proposals of 5 potential foreign partners. On July 27th, in Gdynia, the representatives of the Arma- ment Inspectorate and the PGZ Miecznik consortium concluded a memorandum on the acquisition of three multi-role frigates for the Polish Navy. In September the consortium has designated three bid- ders offering the base platforms, and four potential suppliers of the Integrated Combat System - expected to participate in further works and negotiation. The results of that effort were submitted to the MoD in late December: three bids, regarding the warships based on selec- ted platforms, with three options of Integrated Combat Systems, dif- fering in capability and cost, including armament and sensors. Another relevant episode came into being when the Armament Agency (established after the transformation of the Armament In- spectorate) announced that the British Babcock's, and German tkMS offers were selected for further proceedings, with Arrowhead 140, and MEKO A-300 designs correspondingly. According to the release issued by the Armament Agency, the assessment took into account the technical criteria of the proposal, interoperability with the exi- sting equipment - operated by NATO and the Polish Armed Forces, acquisition cost, and LCC, as well as the future potential for upgrades, MIECZNIK, TAKE THREE The beginning of the third attempt (and everyone hopes - the last attempt) to finalize the Miecznik program is rooted in late 2019. Back then, the analytical-conceptual phase of the program began. That phase was finalized in Septem- ber 2020. Back then an official redefinition of the tactical- -technical requirements took place, concerning the vessels expected to be acquired. This redefinition turned out to be a confirmation of the previously circulated rumors: the requirements of the Polish Navy had been reevaluated, and it was decided that frigates, larger than corvettes, would be the optimal type of platform to meet those requirements. The newly defined preliminary tactical-technical require- ments were submitted to the Minister of Defense by the Armament Inspectorate. Mariusz Błaszczak approved these documents on March 15th, 2021. Then, things progressed rapidly - considering the usual tempo at which the Polish MoD acts. It was one month later, on April 15th, when the Armament Inspectorate asked the PGZ Stocznia Wojenna (PGZ War Shipyard) entity to negotiate conditions in the Miecznik program. On May 14th, the PGZ Miecznik consor- tium was founded, involving: PGZ Group, PGZ Stocznia Wo- jenna, and Remontowa Shipbuilding. On May 17th, the newly established consortium submitted its offer, in 6 variants, www.fragoutmag.com