Hanwha Ocean bids for Poland's Orka submarine program
South Korean shipbuilding giant Hanwha Ocean announced Wednesday that it is making a strong push to win Poland's Orka submarine project, a key naval modernization program worth approximately 8 trillion won ($5.6 billion).
Hanwha Ocean will participate in the Defense24 Days conference in Warsaw, Poland from May 6 to 7, alongside affiliates Hanwha Aerospace in Europe and Hanwha Systems, to showcase its competitive edge.
At the center of Hanwha Ocean's proposal is the delivery of three next-generation 3,600-ton KSS-III Batch-II submarines, designed for over 30 years of operational use.
The company emphasized its technical superiority and reliable track record in submarine production while proposing comprehensive technology transfer and localization plans aimed at supporting the growth of Poland's shipbuilding and defense industries.
Hanwha Ocean has pledged up to $100 million in additional investment to establish a local maintenance, repair, and overhaul support center, enabling long-term operational independence for the Polish Navy.
The company has also partnered with local shipyards, including Remontowa and Nauta, to detail its localization strategy.
Through its 'Team Korea' initiative, Hanwha Ocean aims to collaborate with over 200 South Korean small and medium-sized partners to bring highly localized and export-ready submarine technology to global markets.
The KSS-III submarine, already 80 percent localized, is positioned as a leading contender in the Orka program.
The Casimir Pulaski Foundation, a prominent Polish think tank, recently praised Hanwha's proposal as the most advanced among competitors, citing low technical risk and strong delivery capability.
"By putting forward the KSS-III Batch-II submarine, known for its world-class capabilities, we aim to achieve exports to Poland and set a benchmark in pioneering the global market for K-defense naval systems," said a Hanwha Ocean official.
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