Polish defense authorities have reached out to six nations for information on potential submarine designs for the Orka (Orca) program, as Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s year-end deadline approaches for choosing a preferred supplier.
In recent months, officials from Poland’s Ministry of National Defense have visited France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Sweden, as well as met with representatives from South Korea. These discussions focused on evaluating each country’s proposals and their willingness to cooperate with Poland’s domestic defense industry on the submarine procurement effort.
The acquisition has taken on urgency since the Polish Navy currently operates only one aging Soviet-era Kilo-class submarine, the ORP Orzel. The introduction of new submarines—planned to include cruise missile capability—is expected to significantly enhance Poland’s deterrence and defense posture in the Baltic Sea.
During a government meeting on September 17, Prime Minister Tusk emphasized that the forthcoming deal will be made at the governmental level, reflecting the strategic importance of the project. “We have many options on the table. Given the scale of this investment and its impact on our security, the final decision will be made through a government-to-government agreement,” he stated.
That same session saw the cabinet adopt a resolution mandating the selection of an international partner for the program by the end of 2025. Several European defense contractors—including France’s Naval Group, Italy’s Fincantieri, Sweden’s Saab, and the UK’s Babcock International—have already signed cooperation agreements with Poland’s state-owned defense conglomerate PGZ to strengthen their bids.
The chosen foreign supplier will be required to work closely with PGZ’s subsidiary, PGZ Naval Shipyard, on the submarine’s production. As the centerpiece of Poland’s defense sector, PGZ’s involvement makes it an appealing collaborator for international bidders pursuing what could become the largest naval program in Polish history.
At the Baltexpo 2025 defense exhibition in Gdańsk, Spain’s Navantia became the latest company to formalize its partnership with PGZ. The agreement aims to explore broader naval cooperation opportunities, particularly tied to the Orka submarine initiative and other future naval procurements. According to Navantia, which is offering its S-80-class design, the letter of intent also envisions assessing how PGZ’s facilities could serve as an industrial partner in the program.
A Ministry of Defense spokesperson told *Defense News* in May that proposals from Germany, Italy, and Sweden had received the highest evaluation scores so far, though the other three offers remain under active consideration.
South Korea’s Hanwha Ocean is the only non-European bidder in the competition and is already collaborating with PGZ. “We have prepared an industrial partnership proposal for Poland that includes technology transfer and cooperation with PGZ and the Nauta shipyard to establish a fully local maintenance, repair, and operations capability,” said Hyunrok Park of Hanwha Ocean’s Naval Ship Overseas Business Team.
Hanwha Ocean has already delivered three KSS-III-class submarines to the Republic of Korea Navy, with three additional units under construction. The company aims to make Poland the first international customer for this class while pursuing other markets, including Canada and Saudi Arabia.
Canada has shortlisted Hanwha Ocean and Germany’s thyssenkrupp Marine Systems—another Orka contender—as the two finalists for its plan to acquire up to twelve conventionally powered submarines.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has been exploring options for small to mid-sized submarines for several years, with Italy’s Fincantieri frequently cited as a leading candidate due to its strong ties with Riyadh. At the 2023 IDEX defense exhibition, Fincantieri showcased its S800 light submarine, designed for covert missions in shallow waters. The vessel features five torpedoes and a fuel cell system that minimizes its acoustic signature. A company spokesperson estimated that production of the first S800-class unit would take about four years.
