Ślązak Patrol Vessel Upgrade. Industry Presenting its Offer

The multi-role corvette of Project 621 Gawron‑M was completed in a scaled‑down version as a patrol corvette. In 2022, the Command of the War Port in Gdynia conducted a tender procedure for the preparation of documentation on the possibility of equipping the patrol corvette ORP „Ślązak” with missile systems and passive electronic warfare systems. This documentation was intended to include an analysis and calculations of the vessel’s stability and unsinkability criteria after being fitted with newly installed military equipment. It was to serve as the basis for initiating the procedure to outfit the ship with new armament.

On November 28, 2024, during the Navy Day celebrations, the Minister of National Defence, Władysław Kosiniak‑Kamysz, announced that in 2025, in addition to the contract for the purchase of the new‑type Orka submarines, a contract will be signed for the rearmament of the corvette ORP „Ślązak.”

Meanwhile, work was already underway at the Armed Forces Support Inspectorate on repairing the corvette’s main propulsion system, which had not been sailing for some time. In connection with the Minister’s declaration, the Armament Agency announced on December 30, 2024, its intention to conduct preliminary market consultations. The aim of these consultations is to gather information on the military equipment available on the market in order to prepare a description of the subject matter of the order for equipping the patrol corvette ORP „Ślązak” with weapon systems and additional equipment. The market consultations are set to cover the area concerning the vessel’s rearmament in terms of the minimum tactical, technical, and functional requirements needed to achieve the following capabilities:

• Capability to counter surface threats with missiles;
• Capability to counter aerial threats with missiles;
• EW/SIGINT capabilities;
• Counter-UAS capabilities;
• UAS deployment capabilities.

The Armament Agency has requested that interested parties submit their expressions of interest by 17th January, 2025.

The following entities made their submissions in the preliminary market consultation:

• Allies Inc.;
• Aselsan A.S.;
• Griffin Group S.A. Defence Sp.k.;
• IBKOL Sp. z o.o.;
• Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace AS;
• Leonardo S.p.A.;
• MBDA;
• MILDAT Sp. z o.o.;
• Parasnake;
• PGZ S.A.;
• Polski Rejestr Statków;
• Rafael Advanced Defence Systems Ltd.;
• Remontowa Shipbuilding S.A.;
• Rheinmetall AG;
• Saab AB;
• Shield AI;
• Thales;
• thyssenkrupp Marine Systems GmbH;
• Viasat Inc. + Inmarsat;
• VORTEX;
• Works 11 Sp. z o.o.

The next phase of work for the Armament Agency will be to conduct market consultations with these companies and then, based on them, prepare a description of the subject matter of the order. Only then will the Agency be able to announce a tender procedure—either in an open mode or with selected companies—that will be capable of carrying out the rearmament.

Both processes, namely the rearmament and the repair of ORP „Ślązak”, are very important for the future of this vessel. Without them, the ship is not capable of independently performing its tasks at sea in the event of any military actions. That is why Defence24.pl will be closely monitoring the implementation of these processes.