Defence & Space

Poland’s 6th Airborne Sharpshooters Complete Training with New Grot DMR

In July, the first-ever course in the Polish Armed Forces for sharpshooters equipped with semi-automatic Grot 7.62×51 designated marksman rifles took place…

2025-07-15 | Jakub Link-Lenczowski | 5 minutes

5000 more Galvion’s Batlskin Caiman helmets for the Canadian DICE programme

Galvion receives further follow-on Batlskin Caiman order of 5000 helmets, for the Canadian Dismounted Infantry Capability Enhancement (DICE) programme.

2025-07-15 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

SIPRI: Nuclear risks grow as new arms race looms

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute published a report entitled SIPRI Yearbook 2025, which, among other things, discusses the issue of…

2025-06-16 | Redakcja | 10 minutes

Polish 35 mm SA-35 Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun with PIT-Radwar

During the recent MSPO trade fair in Kielce, the company PIT-Radwar presented its proposal for a 35 mm self-propelled anti-aircraft gun designated…

2025-06-13 | Przemysław Gurgurewicz | 13 minutes

Poland’s 6th Airborne Sharpshooters Complete Training with New Grot DMR

In July, the first-ever course in the Polish Armed Forces for sharpshooters equipped with semi-automatic Grot 7.62×51 designated marksman rifles took place…

2025-07-15 | Jakub Link-Lenczowski | 5 minutes

Second Delivery of K9A1 Thunder Howitzers to Poland This Year

A shipment of 155 mm K9A1 Thunder self-propelled howitzers arrived in Poland from the Republic of Korea, the second delivery of its…

2025-07-15 | Rafał Muczyński | 3 minutes

Orion: The Force Multiplier that led the IDF to unmatched ground superiority

Orion, developed by Asio Technologies in collaboration with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) technology division and in full operational deployment by the IDF, has…

2025-07-09 | Redakcja | 4 minutes

SKW Cryptographic Security Certificate for Polish Comp@n Radio Set from the WB Group

The WB Group announced that the Comp@n system radio set, developed by its subsidiary Radmor, along with the Cryptographic Document Management…

2025-06-14 | Redakcja | 4 minutes

Wescom Defence to Unveil ATMIS Multispectral Camouflage at DSEI 2025

Wescom Defence, a trusted provider of pyrotechnics, energetics and a wide range of reliable products and systems to global defence forces, will officially…

2025-07-14 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

2nd S.E.A.L Conference under Our media patronage

We are pleased to announce that MILMAG Military Magazine has become the media patron of the second edition of the SE.A.L Conference,…

2025-07-11 | Redakcja | 1 minutes

5000 more Galvion’s Batlskin Caiman helmets for the Canadian DICE programme

Galvion receives further follow-on Batlskin Caiman order of 5000 helmets, for the Canadian Dismounted Infantry Capability Enhancement (DICE) programme.

2025-07-15 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

ICEYE unveils machine learning-powered Flood Rapid Impact Product to revolutionize response

The Polish-Finnish company ICEYE, a specialist in satellite-powered disaster management solutions, has announced the launch of Flood Rapid Impact (FRI).

2025-07-15 | Redakcja | 5 minutes

Illegal migration to Europe in the first five months of 2025

The European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) has published statistics on attempted illegal crossings of the EU’s external borders in the…

2025-07-08 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

LOT Polish Airlines Selected for Air Transport and MEDEVAC under the EU’s rescEU Program

LOT Polish Airlines has signed an agreement to provide air transport and MEDEVAC services. As part of the EU’s rescEU instrument under…

2025-07-07 | Redakcja | 4 minutes

Poland’s 6th Airborne Sharpshooters Complete Training with New Grot DMR

In July, the first-ever course in the Polish Armed Forces for sharpshooters equipped with semi-automatic Grot 7.62×51 designated marksman rifles took place…

2025-07-15 | Jakub Link-Lenczowski | 5 minutes

5000 more Galvion’s Batlskin Caiman helmets for the Canadian DICE programme

Galvion receives further follow-on Batlskin Caiman order of 5000 helmets, for the Canadian Dismounted Infantry Capability Enhancement (DICE) programme.

2025-07-15 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

Illegal migration to Europe in the first five months of 2025

The European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) has published statistics on attempted illegal crossings of the EU’s external borders in the…

2025-07-08 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

East Shield and the Baltic Defense Line: Cooperation and Investment in Defense Are the Cornerstone of Europe’s Security

East Shield, the Baltic Defense Line, the integration of available deterrence and defense capabilities, and EU defense funding were the main…

2025-07-02 | Redakcja | 2 minutes

ICEYE unveils machine learning-powered Flood Rapid Impact Product to revolutionize response

The Polish-Finnish company ICEYE, a specialist in satellite-powered disaster management solutions, has announced the launch of Flood Rapid Impact (FRI).

2025-07-15 | Redakcja | 5 minutes

LYOFOOD Pierogi Become First Polish Dish Eaten in Space

Yesterday, during a live broadcast from the International Space Station, our astronaut Dr. Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, together with Axiom-4 mission commander Peggy…

2025-07-07 | Rafał Muczyński | 3 minutes
Shooting

Galvion’s Caiman Helmets from Gdańsk

Two weeks have passed since the memorable Monday, June 23, of this year. The emotions have settled, and the long…

2025-07-10 | Dariusz Borkowski | 10 minutes

CZ Shooting Team athletes take home 13 medals from the CZ Extreme Euro Open

Sport shooters representing Ceska zbrojovka brought back six gold, four silver, and three bronze medals from Hodonice, along with four…

2025-07-04 | Redakcja | 4 minutes

Upgraded Z8i Scope from SWAROVSKI OPTIK

Swarovski Optik, the Austrian optics manufacturer with nearly 80 years of tradition, has unveiled an upgraded version of its Z8i…

2025-07-03 | Mariusz Piwowar | 3 minutes

Streamlight introduces the SL-SideSaddle

Streamlight, Inc., a leading provider of high-performance lighting tools, announces the SL-SideSaddle series, a new hands-free lighting solution built for outdoor adventure…

2025-07-01 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

Galvion’s Caiman Helmets from Gdańsk

Two weeks have passed since the memorable Monday, June 23, of this year. The emotions have settled, and the long…

2025-07-10 | Dariusz Borkowski | 10 minutes

IFRE 2025: Maskpol Showcases Protective Suits and Gas Masks

Maskpol, a company within the Polish Armaments Group (PGZ), presented part of its product range—protective suits and gas masks—at the 5th…

2025-06-17 | Michał Ihnatów | 2 minutes

Galvion’s Caiman Helmets from Gdańsk

Two weeks have passed since the memorable Monday, June 23, of this year. The emotions have settled, and the long…

2025-07-10 | Dariusz Borkowski | 10 minutes

CZ Shooting Team athletes take home 13 medals from the CZ Extreme Euro Open

Sport shooters representing Ceska zbrojovka brought back six gold, four silver, and three bronze medals from Hodonice, along with four…

2025-07-04 | Redakcja | 4 minutes

CZ Introduces the New CZ P-10 C PORTED Model

CZ P-10 C PORTED – a compact pistol with tamed recoil thanks to an integrated compensator.

2025-07-02 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

Meprolight MMX3 and MMX4 – Lightweight Magnifiers with Quality Optics

The Mepro MMX3 and MMX4, a new line of compact magnifiers from the Israeli manufacturer. How do they perform in practice and how…

2025-06-27 | Krzysztof Ptak | 8 minutes

Paris Air Show 2025: Bayraktar TB3 Debuts

The 55th edition of the International Paris Air and Space Show, held in the French capital, provided an opportunity for Baykar…

2025-06-19 | Radosław Niesobski | 3 minutes

Setting Up a Shooting Belt: An Example with Clawgear

To assist with shooting training and beyond, various belts and gear configurations have been developed and customized to suit individual needs. It’s…

2024-11-28 | Łukasz Kołodziejski | 14 minutes

Over 100% increase in gun permits in Poland in 2024

The Polish Police have released statistical data on firearm permits issued in 2024. An increasing number of Poles now hold a permit, with…

2025-02-20 | Michał Ihnatów | 5 minutes

Firearms In Poland 2023: Number of permits continues to grow

The National Police Headquarters has released statistics regarding the number of firearm permits and firearms themselves in the hands of Poles.…

2024-02-17 | Michał Ihnatów | 5 minutes

5 Best Value ATN Rifle Scopes Under €1500

ATN is a leading manufacturer of daytime optics, smart night vision, and thermal vision technology. The innovative features and ergonomic designs…

2022-11-11 | Redakcja | 9 minutes

MILMAG Visits Grand Power

Grand Power is a Slovak manufacturer of the acknowledged good quality firearms. Take part in our guided tour with English subtitles.

2022-05-23 | Redakcja | 1 minutes

Meprolight MMX3 and MMX4 – Lightweight Magnifiers with Quality Optics

The Mepro MMX3 and MMX4, a new line of compact magnifiers from the Israeli manufacturer. How do they perform in practice and how…

2025-06-27 | Krzysztof Ptak | 8 minutes

Streamlight TLR-7 HL-X – a Bayonet of Light for Your Weapon

The devil’s not so scary once you shine a light on him—and he’s certainly easier to neutralize in the spotlight. A weapon-mounted flashlight is practically…

2025-06-09 | Anna Mielczarek | 6 minutes

EOTECH Holographic Sight – History, Technology, Practice

The holographic sight is a device known for nearly 30 years and used by professionals around the world. A favorite sight of many…

2024-09-02 | Michał Gaweł | 12 minutes

Poland: Construction Begins on Burza, the Second Miecznik-Class Frigate

On May 5, 2025, a ceremonial first steel-cutting took place for the second multi-role frigate of Project 106, being built as a part of the Miecznik program.

The vessel, currently under construction at PGZ Stocznia Wojenna (PGZ Naval Shipyard) in Gdynia with the hull number B106/2, will be named Burza (Polish for storm or tempest) during its launch, which is expected to take place in the third quarter of 2027. This marks the second such milestone in the history of the program. The first occurred over a year and a half ago—on August 16, 2023—when work began on hull B106/1, the future ORP Wicher (Polish for gale, both names are references to Polish warships from World War II).

The first sheet of steel marking the start of construction of frigate B106/2 / Photos: Przemysław Gurgurewicz, MILMAG

During the steel-cutting ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, along with invited guests and members of the media, had the opportunity to inspect the progress on the construction of the first vessel. The completed hull blocks are located in the newly built hull integration hall, which was commissioned in November of last year. Among the visible sections were the aft part of B106/1 and several midship blocks. The bow block is being built at the neighboring Crist shipyard and will later be joined with the sections under construction at PGZ Stocznia Wojenna. The fully assembled hull is expected to be launched in the third quarter of 2026. The ship is scheduled for completion in 2028, which will allow for the start of qualification trials. These trials are planned to be completed no later than the end of the first quarter of 2030. The keel for the second vessel, construction of which began today, is scheduled to be laid in the fourth quarter of 2025, with a launch expected in the third quarter of 2027, and final delivery planned for the second quarter of 2030.

As for the third vessel—B106/3 (Huragan, Polish for hurricane)—the steel-cutting is planned for the third quarter of 2026, keel-laying in the fourth quarter of 2026, launch in the third quarter of 2028, and delivery of the completed ship in the second quarter of 2031.

The sheet featured the name of the program, the ship’s hull number, and its future name, Burza.

The Project 106 Miecznik frigates are multi-role vessels with an overall length of 138.7 meters, a maximum beam of 19.75 meters, and a maximum displacement of approximately 7,000 tons. The propulsion system, consisting of four MTU 20V 8000 M71 diesel engines, each generating 8,200 kW, is expected to enable a top speed of over 26 knots. The cruising speed is set at 12 knots, with an operational range of around 8,000 nautical miles. The crew will consist of approximately 180 personnel, with accommodations for up to 187.

The armament of the new Polish frigates will include:

  • 1 Leonardo OTO Melara 76/62 Super Rapid Strales 76 mm naval gun,
  • 2 PIT-Radwar OSU-35K anti-aircraft systems with 35 mm AM-35K cannons,
  • 2 ZM Tarnów WKM-Bm 12.7 mm heavy machine guns,
  • 2 remotely operated TBO machine guns,
  • 8 Kongsberg NSM anti-ship missile launchers (with provisions for doubling this number to 16 launchers),
  • MBDA Sea Ceptor air defense system with 128 CAMM short-range (>25 km) surface-to-air missiles housed in a 32-cell Lockheed Martin Mk 41 Strike VLS (four 8-cell modules). In the future, the Sea Ceptor system is expected to gain compatibility with extended-range CAMM-ER missiles (>45 km) and the next-generation CAMM-MR (FCM) missiles, which are still in development and projected to have a range exceeding 100 km,
  • 4 (two twin) EuroTorp B515 324 mm anti-submarine torpedo launchers.

The electronic equipment of the vessels will include the following systems and devices:

  • Thales TACTICOS combat management system with 20 multifunction operator consoles,
  • Thales Sea Master 410 long-range multifunction radar (range up to 400 km),
  • Thales NS50 (NS58 series) medium-range radar (range up to 180 km),
  • Thales STIR 1.2 EO Mk 2 fire control radar,
  • Thales Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) system with TSA 6000 interrogator and TSC 4000 transponder,
  • 2 ZGS-35K electro-optical integrated tracking heads as part of the PIT-Radwar OSU-35K system,
  • Thales Blue Hunter hull-mounted sonar,
  • Thales CAPTAS-2 towed sonar system,
  • Thales bathymetric probe,
  • Thales TUUM-6 underwater telephone,
  • Wavefront Sentinel IDS diver detection sonar,
  • Rohde & Schwarz KORA integrated electronic warfare system,
  • PGZ Stocznia Wojenna integrated bridge and navigation system based on OSI products,
  • PGZ Stocznia Wojenna integrated communication system based on in-house and Rohde & Schwarz technologies.

Activation of the steel-cutting machine by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz

The contract for the construction of three frigates under the codename Miecznik was signed on July 27, 2021, between the then Armament Inspectorate and the PGZ-Miecznik consortium, which at the time consisted of: Polish Armaments Group (PGZ) as the lead partner, PGZ Stocznia Wojenna sp. z o.o. (Consortium Member), and Remontowa Shipbuilding S.A. (the latter withdrew from the consortium on June 14, 2023; as a result, the Crist shipyard in Gdynia became the main subcontractor for hull construction).

The agreement stipulated that, in the first stage, the consortium would conduct comparative analyses of the proposed designs and provide the Armament Agency with materials to support the selection of the final solution. In March 2022, it was announced that the offer from the British company Babcock, featuring the Arrowhead 140 frigate, had been selected.

In this symbolic way, the construction of the second Project 106 frigate under the Miecznik program was officially launched

Construction of the first ship did not begin until approximately two years after the contract was signed, due to the fact that Annex No. 3—detailing the final configuration of the ordered vessels, including their armament and equipment—was only signed on June 30, 2023. This annex provided funding for one fully equipped prototype vessel and two additional ships without armament systems, electronic warfare systems, technical observation systems, and most of the sonar suite. These gaps were addressed on December 15, 2023, when Annex No. 4 was signed, covering the purchase of the following for the second and third frigates: 76 mm OTO Melara Super Rapid Strales naval guns, Lockheed Martin Mk 41 missile launchers, Sea Ceptor missile systems, Thales Sea Master 410 radars, Thales NS50 series radars, the Rohde & Schwarz KORA integrated electronic warfare system, and Thales Identification Friend or Foe systems with the TSA 6000 interrogator and TSC 4000 transponder. For the first time, the total value of the contract including the annexes was disclosed—amounting to 14.8 billion PLN.

Following Annex No. 4, some equipment and weapon systems for the second and third ships still remained unprocured. This specifically included the OSU-35K artillery system with ZGS-35K electro-optical integrated tracking heads, heavy machine guns, the Thales STIR 1.2EO Mk 2 fire control radar, the Thales CAPTAS-2 towed sonar, the Wavefront Sentinel IDS diver detection sonar, and the Rohde & Schwarz KORA integrated electronic warfare system. This means that the overall cost of the program will rise beyond the previously stated 14.8 billion PLN to account for the purchase of the above-listed systems. The shipbuilding contract also does not cover the acquisition of onboard helicopters or ammunition—such as surface-to-air missiles, anti-ship missiles, or torpedoes—which will most likely be included in separate agreements.

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