We are proceeding with the Orka program. Later this year, we plan to launch a procedure aimed at purchasing submarines along with the transfer of the necessary technologies, Deputy Prime Minister, head of the Ministry of Defense Mariusz Blaszczak announced on Wednesday, May 24th.

During the two-day Defense24 Day conference, which began on Wednesday, Blaszczak stressed that "a full-fledged Navy should include not only surface vessels, but also those that can stealthily move underwater." "We are proceeding with the Orca program. Later this year, we plan to launch a procedure aimed at purchasing submarines together with the transfer of the necessary technologies, which we want to obtain through an offset procurement," - he informed.

He added that the ministry will soon announce more details on the number of vessels and their equipment and competencies. "We want our submarines to be characterized by the longevity of the missions carried out, as well as high capacity in terms of carried combat assets and flexibility of configuration. But also high capacity for stealthy movement at high speed and long-term stealthy waiting underwater," - said the head of the Ministry of Defense.

The ships, he added, should be capable of using, in addition to torpedoes, submarine-launched cruise missiles capable of hitting targets deep inside the aggressor's territory.

Blaszczak noted that the Defense Ministry is following the modernization of submarine fleets in Europe and around the world. "In recent months, we have been closely following the project of acquiring new submarines by Australia, where we see undoubted benefits by analyzing the solutions adopted by this country," he - he said.

"We realize that such a project is a great challenge. Not only in terms of the culture of the crews in the new environment, but above all in terms of servicing these vessels and applying the support infrastructure for their needs," - The head of the Ministry of Defense said.

At the same time, he invited Poland's partners to participate in the tender for the purchase of submarines.

The "Combating Threats at Sea" program - which detailed, among other things, the Orka program - was included as a priority in the Technical Modernization Plan of the Polish Armed Forces for 2013-2022. In late 2017. The Ministry of Defense - then headed by Antoni Macierewicz - announced that a decision on the selection of a strategic partner in the Orka submarine acquisition program would be made in early 2018.

In June 2018, the then-new Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak told TVP1 that the government had adopted documents that lay the groundwork so that the process of equipping the Polish Army with modern equipment, including submarines, could begin. In August 2019, Deputy Minister of Defense Wojciech Skurkiewicz, responding to an interpellation by PO-KO deputies, reported that at the time the analytical and conceptual phase was underway to determine how to acquire new submarines for the Navy, as well as work on acquiring a submarine as part of a bridging solution.

In October 2019, Minister Blaszczak, discussing the Technical Modernization Plan for 2021-2035, said that for the Navy it was planned to "acquire the ability to strike surface and underwater targets by a submarine of a new type under the Orka program," and a "bridging solution is planned, which will allow the acquisition of two submarines in the near term and ensure the continuity of submarine training."

In July 2020, a response from the Ministry of Defense and the CIR to the Shipyard Portal reported talks "with the Swedish side on the acquisition of submarines as part of the bridging capability." - It was about modernized submarines of the A17 type and their acquisition was to "strengthen capabilities in the area of submarine operations, but also to maintain a prepared for operations and trained human potential," which in the future would ensure "the smooth deployment into service of submarines of a new type under the Orka program."

At the time, it was reported that negotiations were underway to purchase two used ships from Sweden as a bridging solution.

In 2021, the head of the Ministry of Defense told Polish Radio Program 1 that "unfortunately negotiations with the Swedish partner on the purchase of a bridging capability, that is, used submarines from Sweden, are dragging on." Blaszczak said at the time that the negotiations were not going in the right direction, and after a briefing with commanders, a decision was made that "we will prioritize a coastal defense ship."

In response to a 2023 interpellation by MP Hanna Gill-Piątek (dissenting), the Defense Ministry only noted that "the acquisition of submarines of a new type for the Polish Navy within the framework of the Orka program was included in the Technical Modernization Plan for 2021-2035 with 2020 included." It added that "detailed recommendations on all aspects for further implementation of the task, including, among other things, the possible timing of the task, the selection of a strategic partner and the method of acquiring the vessels, as well as potential technical solutions, will be the result of analyses carried out in the Ministry of National Defense prior to the initiation of the public procurement procedure."

Originally, as part of the Orka program, the Ministry of Defense planned to purchase three-four new submarines, with the program's value estimated at PLN 10 billion. According to earlier announcements, Poland intended to buy new submarines armed with long-range cruise missiles.