In August 2026, PGZ Stocznia Wojenna in Gdynia will launch Wicher, the first of three next-generation multi-role frigates being built under the “Miecznik” programme. The event marks one of the most significant milestones in the largest naval shipbuilding programme in the history of the Polish Navy. Due to the complexity of the operation, the Shipyard has scheduled the process over several days, with the ceremonial christening and naming of the vessel taking place on 12 August.
Because Wicher was constructed inside the production hall, its launch differs from a traditional side or slipway launch. The approximately 6,000-ton hull will be rolled out of the hull construction hall on self-propelled modular transporters (SPMTs) and positioned on the semi-submersible transport barge BOA Barge 33, which is 140 metres long. The barge will then be towed into the waters of the Gulf of Gdańsk, where it will undergo controlled submersion, allowing the frigate to float freely for the first time. Transporting a hull of this size and lowering it safely into the water is one of the most demanding engineering operations ever undertaken by the Polish shipbuilding industry.
Roll-out, Christening and Launch
The event schedule has been designed to allow journalists and photographers to cover each stage of the operation. On the evening of Sunday, 9 August, the completed hull will be partially rolled out of the Hull Construction Hall and illuminated. The sight of the illuminated frigate emerging from the hall will provide a rare opportunity to capture striking images shortly before the vessel enters the water.
The ceremonial highlight will be the christening and naming ceremony on Wednesday, 12 August, attended by representatives of the Polish government and the Polish Navy. The ceremony will also mark the official start of the launch operation.
The physical launch will take place on 13 August, one day after the ceremony. In the waters of the Gulf of Gdańsk, the transport barge will be gradually submerged in a controlled operation, allowing Wicher to float independently for the first time. After the hull has been inspected for watertight integrity, the ship—still without its propulsion system at this stage of construction—will be towed back to the Shipyard by tugboats and moored alongside the outfitting quay, where the next phase of construction, including installation and integration of onboard systems, will begin.
The Largest Naval Shipbuilding Programme in the History of the Polish Navy
The “Miecznik” programme is the largest naval shipbuilding undertaking in the history of the Polish fleet. The contract for the three frigates is worth more than PLN 15 billion, and at peak production more than 2,000 people are involved in their construction. The ships are being built at a comprehensively modernised Shipyard, including Poland’s tallest hull integration hall, standing 46 metres high. Investment in production capabilities alone has exceeded PLN 300 million.
The programme includes the construction of three vessels—Wicher, Burza, and Huragan—which will replace ageing ships of the Polish fleet and provide capabilities to counter air, surface, and underwater threats, while protecting maritime routes and critical infrastructure. The frigates are based on the Arrowhead 140 design by Babcock International, adapted to the operational requirements of the Polish Navy. The programme is being delivered by the PGZ-MIECZNIK Consortium, formed by Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa S.A. and PGZ Stocznia Wojenna. Each frigate will be nearly 140 metres long with a full-load displacement of approximately 7,000 tonnes. Completion of the entire programme is scheduled by the end of 2031.
Return of Wicher
The name of the new frigate is no coincidence. Wicher was the name of the first modern warship of the reborn Republic of Poland—a destroyer commissioned in 1930 that became the flagship and symbol of the Polish fleet for many years. Her sister ship was Burza, mirroring the names of the first two frigates of the “Miecznik” programme today. In the autumn of 1939, after the remaining destroyers had sailed to the United Kingdom, ORP Wicher remained as the only destroyer defending the Polish coast. On 3 September, she was sunk by German aircraft off Hel. The theme “Return of Wicher”, under which the Shipyard is organising the August events, is a tribute to that historic legacy.
