Just the two of us: Babcock and TKMS remain in Miecznik competition
Babcock's Arrowhead 140 frigate design. (Photo: Babcock.)
The Polish government on 10 February announced it has whittled down the number of competitors for the Miecznik frigate programme to the UK’s Babcock and Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS).
The decision indicates that Spanish shipbuilder Navantia is out of the programme; when asked for comment by Shephard, the company directed questions to PGZ as the prime contractor for Miecznik.
Babcock offered its Arrowhead 140 design, which is also the basis for the future RN Inspiration-class Type 31 vessel, while TKMS proposed the MEKO A-300PL.
Navantia had put forward its F-100PL design.
Following an assessment of lifecycle costs, interoperability with existing Polish equipment, modernisation potential and other metrics, the UK and German bids scored within 5% of each other.
A decision between the two final contenders and a contract signature will depend on final terms and acquisition cost negotiations.
Under a technology transfer programme, the chosen frigate design will be built at the PGZ shipyard in Gdynia.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
More from Naval Warfare
-
Lockheed Martin strengthens Spanish SPY-7 radar supply chain
The global defence giant chose a Spanish firm for its work on the Bonifaz-class frigate.
-
Oostende mine countermeasures vessel begins sea trials
The first vessel in the Belgian-Dutch rMCM mine-clearing fleet, the Oostende, has begun its sea trials before officially entering service in 2025.
-
US Navy places $312 million contract with Textron Systems for landing craft
Textron’s latest order for Ship to Shore Connector (SSC), Landing Craft, Air Cushion (LCAC) follows on from a contract placed in August 2023 for five LCAC.
-
Japan to boost surface fleet with new destroyers and missile ships
Japan is enhancing its naval capabilities with the construction of the 13DDX advanced destroyer and Aegis System Equipped Vessels (AESV), aiming to strengthen its air and missile defence amid increasing security threats, particularly in East Asia.