Latest news with #PolishNavy
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Poland, Baltic states eye new submarines, attack boats to deter Russia
WARSAW, Poland — Poland and the Baltic states are accelerating efforts to acquire new submarines and vessels that will broaden their capabilities suitable for the sea's shallow waters. In Poland, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, the country's deputy prime minister and defense minister, has said his ministry aims to order between three and four new submarines for the Polish Navy until the end of this year. The planned procurement, which is pursued under the Orka (Orca) program, is deemed urgent, as the country's naval forces rely on a single Soviet-designed submarine, the Kilo-class ORP Orzel, whose outdated technology and equipment makes it incompatible with the requirements of modern naval warfare. While a number of countries are competing to secure the potential order from Warsaw, the ministry has disclosed that its experts assigned the highest scores to the offers placed by Germany, Sweden and Italy. In 2023, Poland unveiled that 11 entities took part in a market consultation. Known competitors include France's Naval Group, German ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, Italy's Fincantieri, Spain's Navantia, South Korea's Hanwha Ocean and Hyundai, Sweden's Saab, and the U.K.'s Babcock. A spokesperson for the Polish ministry told Defense News that, while three offers have received the highest scores from the Polish Armaments Agency, the military's procurement arm, the remaining submarines have not been discarded amid ongoing talks with foreign governments. 'Currently, government-level talks are being held. Following the decision of the Technical Modernization Council, the Armaments Agency will take steps with the aim to acquire these submarines,' the spokesperson said. Meanwhile, Latvia and Lithuania have joined forces to buy multipurpose attack boats from Finnish shipbuilder Marine Alutech. Under the Common Future Multipurpose Attack Craft (CFMAC) program, the shipyard is to develop and deliver combat vessels based on the Watercat M18 design to the two Baltic States' militaries. 'This contract is the second step after the 2024 Technical Agreement between Latvia, Lithuania and Finland to strengthen regional defense. Under this contract, Lithuania will acquire two advanced Fast Multirole Attack Crafts from Marine Alutech,' the Finnish shipbuilder said in a statement. A spokesperson for the Lithuanian Ministry of National Defence told Defense News the two multirole attack craft that are to be built for the country's Navy will be integrated into the Coastal Defense Battalion. The acquisition 'will significantly enhance Lithuania's naval defense capabilities. These vessels will feature advanced combat systems, including Spike NLOS missile launchers and a remote heavy machine gun control system, which will enable them to engage both maritime and land-based targets effectively,' the ministry's representative said. 'Furthermore, the boats are specially designed for operations in shallow waters, allowing them to perform missions in areas such as the Curonian Lagoon, where conventional vessels may struggle. This unique design and propulsion system will ensure that Lithuania can maintain a rapid response capacity for a variety of threats, ranging from asymmetric warfare to traditional defense operations,' the spokesperson added. The vessels are scheduled to enter service in the Lithuanian Navy in late 2026. 'The Lithuanian Ministry of National Defence has plans to further expand and modernize naval capabilities in the coming years. Between 2030 and 2037, Lithuania is preparing for a progressive modernization of its naval fleet,' said the ministry representative. 'This initiative will include the acquisition of new multirole offshore patrol vessels, which will be equipped with advanced capabilities to address evolving security challenges.' Based in Teijo, on the Finnish Baltic Sea shore, Marine Alutech says that its shipyard has built more than 500 vessels since 1985.
Metro
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Metro
Russian bomber caught performing 'dangerous maneuvers' near Nato territory
Nato was forced to deploy forces to intercept a Russian Su-34 bomber performing 'dangerous maneuvers' over the Baltic Sea. Poland's defence minister Wladysław Kosiniak-Kamysz confirmed that a pair of fighter jets were scrambled after the joint operational command for Alliance forces in Europe issued the order late last night. He told reporters: 'The Russian Federation's Su-24 aircraft was performing dangerous manoueuvres.' He said such manoueuvres 'show what the intentions of this action are, that this is not an accidental action, but an intentional action'. The minister added that 'such incidents have already taken place in recent weeks'. The Russian Su-34 plane – which is capable of carrying guided bombs and precision missiles – was intercepted and 'successfully deterred' while in international waters. The incident took place near the heavily militarized Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave wedged between Poland and Lithuania. Russian fighter jets often fly without transponders switched on, without submitting flight plans and without contacting air traffic control. This is the latest in a series of Russian provocations near Nato airspace. Earlier this week, Poland said a sanctioned Russian ship was performing 'suspicious maneuvers' in the Baltic Sea near the power cable connecting Poland and Sweden. 'A Russian ship from the 'shadow fleet' covered by sanctions performed suspicious maneuvers near the power cable connecting Poland with Sweden,' prime minister Donald Tusk wrote on X. 'After the effective intervention of our military, the ship sailed to one of the Russian ports.' 'Shadow fleet' refers to vessels used by Russia to ship oil, arms and grains in violation of international sanctions imposed after the Ukraine invasion. More Trending Speaking later to reporters, Kosiniak-Kamysz said a patrol flight scared the ship off and said the Polish Navy's ORP Heweliusz was sailing to the scene. The minister said: 'This shows how dangerous the times we live in are, how serious the situation in the Baltic Sea is. 'Since Sweden and Finland joined Nato, the Baltic Sea has become a key marine area, where the largest number of incidents occur, the most common incidents related to cable breaks… and sabotage.' He vowed a 'firm response' from Poland to any attack on Baltic Sea infrastructure. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Mystery of how top sports professor was found dead inside Russia's most famous statue MORE: Ukrainian ex-Putin ally Andriy Portnov shot dead outside the American School in Madrid MORE: Putin shows no sign of agreeing to ceasefire with rare visit to the frontline
Epoch Times
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
Polish Navy Drives Off Russian ‘Shadow Fleet' Vessel Seen Near Baltic Sea Power Cable
The Polish Navy was called into action after a vessel belonging to Moscow's 'shadow fleet' was spotted in suspicious circumstances near a Baltic Sea power cable linking Poland and Sweden, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Wednesday. Tusk
Hindustan Times
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Poland checking for explosive devices near power cable with Sweden after Russian shadow fleet spotted
Poland is looking into whether any explosive devices were planted where a ship from Russia's "shadow fleet" was seen moving suspiciously near a power cable linking Poland with Sweden on Wednesday, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said. NATO has beefed up security in the Baltic following a string of incidents in which power cables, telecom links and gas pipelines were damaged in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. "Shadow fleet" refers to vessels used by Russia to ship oil, arms and grains in violation of international sanctions imposed over its war in Ukraine. "We are still investigating whether any explosives were planted - it has to be checked very carefully. ORP Heweliusz (Polish hydrographic ship) is still at sea (doing so), and for now there are no worrisome signals," Tusk told reporters on Thursday during a meeting with Polish Navy commanders. "I am really very satisfied that in a very effective, discreet way, without using unnecessary means, we managed to discourage the ship from any kinetic actions that could cause damage to the power cable," he said. Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said on Wednesday a Polish patrol flight had scared the Russian ship off and the navy's ORP Heweliusz sailed to the scene. The 600-megawatt undersea cable links the Swedish coast near Karlshamn with Ustka in northern Poland and allows both grids to rely on cross-border supplies when electricity is cheaper in the other system. On Wednesday Russia's embassy in Warsaw declined to comment. In the past, Moscow has denied involvement in undersea sabotage in the Baltic, saying the West was using such claims to curb Russia's seaborne oil exports. (Reporting by Pawel Florkiewicz and Anna Wlodarczak-Semczuk; editing by Mark Heinrich)
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First Post
21-05-2025
- Politics
- First Post
Poland scrambles military after Russian ‘shadow fleet' vessel spotted near Baltic power cable
Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Wednesday said that Poland's military took action after a vessel from Russia's so-called 'shadow fleet' was spotted carrying out suspicious maneuvers near an undersea power cable linking Poland and Sweden read more Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk attends a press conference, following a meeting with Latvia's Prime Minister Evika Silina (not pictured), in Warsaw, Poland, on February 29, 2024. Reuters File Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Wednesday said that Poland's military took action after a vessel from Russia's so-called 'shadow fleet' was spotted carrying out suspicious maneuvers near an undersea power cable linking Poland and Sweden. The incident comes amid heightened Nato vigilance in the Baltic Sea, following a series of disruptions to power lines, communication networks, and gas pipelines since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. 'A Russian ship from the 'shadow fleet' covered by sanctions performed suspicious maneuvers near the power cable connecting Poland with Sweden,' Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote on X. 'After the effective intervention of our military, the ship sailed to one of the Russian ports,' he added. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The term 'shadow fleet' refers to vessels used by Russia to transport oil, weapons, and grain in defiance of international sanctions imposed after its invasion of Ukraine. Polish Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz later told reporters that a patrol aircraft had successfully driven the vessel away, and that the Polish Navy's ORP Heweliusz was en route to the area. Vice Admiral Krzysztof Jaworski, Poland's Maritime Component Commander, identified the tanker as Sun, which is registered under the flag of Antigua. The Russian embassy in Warsaw declined to comment. Moscow has previously denied involvement in any undersea sabotage in the Baltic Sea, accusing Western nations of using such allegations to undermine its maritime oil trade. The 600-megawatt submarine power cable connects Karlshamn in Sweden to Ustka in northern Poland, enabling both countries to share electricity when it's more cost-effective. A spokesperson for Poland's grid operator, PSE, confirmed the cable remained operational. As of 11:30 GMT, more than 600 megawatts were flowing from Poland to Sweden. 'This shows how dangerous the times we live in are, how serious the situation in the Baltic Sea is,' Reuters quoted Kosiniak-Kamysz as saying at a news conference. 'Since Sweden and Finland joined the North Atlantic Alliance, the Baltic Sea has become a key marine area, where the largest number of incidents occur, the most common incidents related to cable breaks… and sabotage,' he added. He vowed a 'firm response' from Poland and Nato to any attack on Baltic Sea infrastructure. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Sweden's coast guard declined to comment. Reuters was not immediately able to reach Sweden's minister for civil defence. With inputs from agencies
