Babcock has secured two further contracts relating to Poland’s MIECZNIK (Swordfish) frigate program. The Class Design Contract and the Transfer of Knowledge & Skills (TOKAT) framework agreement respectively support the further development of the program and the enhancement of shipbuilding capability in Poland to deliver MIECZNIK to schedule.
Babcock was chosen as the platform design provider and technology partner for Poland’s new frigate program earlier this year. The company is supporting the PGZ-MIECZNIK Consortium for three Arrowhead 140 frigates to be built in Polish shipyards by a local workforce, drawing significantly from Polish suppliers and Babcock’s global supply chain.
The Class Design contract is key to supporting the maturity of the MIECZNIK frigate and the provision of a design documentation package to Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ S.A) for submission to the Classification Authority. This critical and timely process in the contract will drive forward the next stage of the engineering process and support the program to achieve cut steel of Ship 1 in 2023.
Under the TOKAT framework contract, Babcock will share its technology, engineering expertise and industry know-how with PGZ S.A., PGZ SW and Remontowa Ship Building with the aim of transforming their shipyards and deliver the MIECZNIK program for the Polish Navy. The cooperation will include human resources development and staff training, support in infrastructure upgrades planning and the implementation of tools and technologies.
“I am delighted with the progress on the Polish MIECZNIK program. Our work in Poland builds on the shared interests of the NATO countries. Babcock will deliver first-class frigates that will contribute significantly to the sovereign defense capability in Poland,” said Babcock CEO, David Lockwood. “We look forward to building on our close working relationship with the PGZ-MIECZNIK Consortium.”
Earlier this year Babcock supported the opening of a new PGZ S.A Project Management Office in Gdynia, Poland, that will manage the in-country delivery of the country’s MIECZNIK frigate program.