Defence & Space

Rheinmetall wins major order for artillery ammunition

Rheinmetall Denel Munition wins major 155mm ammunition contract. Order worth several hundred million euros, deliveries from 2025 until 2027. It…

2025-07-04 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

A contractor has been selected for the repair of Mk 75 guns on Polish OHP frigates

The Gdynia Naval Port Command has published information on the outcome of the tender procedure for the repair of two…

2025-07-02 | Rafał Muczyński | 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…

2025-06-13 | Przemysław Gurgurewicz | 13 minutes

Rheinmetall wins major order for artillery ammunition

Rheinmetall Denel Munition wins major 155mm ammunition contract. Order worth several hundred million euros, deliveries from 2025 until 2027. It…

2025-07-04 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

A contractor has been selected for the repair of Mk 75 guns on Polish OHP frigates

The Gdynia Naval Port Command has published information on the outcome of the tender procedure for the repair of two…

2025-07-02 | Rafał Muczyński | 3 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

Advancing multi-domain EW operations: Rohde & Schwarz unveils latest innovations at AOC Europe

Rohde & Schwarz demonstrates the next generation of SIGINT/EW systems, sensor fusion and signal analysis solutions, designed to meet the evolving…

2025-05-12 | Redakcja | 2 minutes

Autonomous and Unmanned Systems by Łukasiewicz – PIAP at the OPEX 2025 Training Ground in Italy

During the HEDI OPEX 2025 experimental campaign at the CEPOLISPE training ground in Italy, the Łukasiewicz Research Network – Industrial…

2025-06-28 | Redakcja | 4 minutes

Paris Air Show 2025: Debut of Foudre – the French HIMARS

As previously announced by Turgis & Gaillard, the 55th International Paris Air and Space Show served as the venue for the…

2025-06-23 | Radosław Niesobski | 2 minutes

Rheinmetall wins major order for artillery ammunition

Rheinmetall Denel Munition wins major 155mm ammunition contract. Order worth several hundred million euros, deliveries from 2025 until 2027. It…

2025-07-04 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

Polish Ministry of National Defence: New Contract for K2 Tanks and Support Vehicles Imminent

In Warsaw, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, along with Secretary of State at the Ministry…

2025-07-02 | Redakcja | 10 minutes

Bayraktar TB2 and FlyEye Drones to Support Polish Police Manhunt for Killer Near Limanowa

The Bayraktar TB2 drone and FlyEye systems will support the Polish police in the search for 57-year-old Tadeusz Duda, suspected…

2025-06-30 | Rafał Muczyński | 5 minutes

Galvion’s European Production Hub in Poland is formally opened by the Ambassador of Canada tothe Republic of Poland

Canadian company Galvion announced that the Canadian Ambassador to Poland, Catherine Godin, officially opened the European Production Hub in Gdańsk.

2025-06-26 | Redakcja | 4 minutes

Rheinmetall wins major order for artillery ammunition

Rheinmetall Denel Munition wins major 155mm ammunition contract. Order worth several hundred million euros, deliveries from 2025 until 2027. It…

2025-07-04 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

A contractor has been selected for the repair of Mk 75 guns on Polish OHP frigates

The Gdynia Naval Port Command has published information on the outcome of the tender procedure for the repair of two…

2025-07-02 | Rafał Muczyński | 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…

2025-07-02 | Redakcja | 2 minutes

Russia Loses World’s Largest Helicopter, Mi-26, in Ukrainian Attack on Crimea

The Security Service of Ukraine reported that during a special operation at the Kirovske military airfield in occupied Crimea, a Pantsir-S1 air…

2025-06-29 | Rafał Muczyński | 4 minutes

Finland Ministry of Defense selects ICEYE for space-based intelligence and surveillance capabilities

The Polish-Finnish company ICEYE and the Finnish Ministry of Defense have signed a Letter of Intent that enables the Finnish Defense…

2025-06-27 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

Axiom Mission 4: The Historic Spaceflight of Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski

June 25, 2025, will go down in history as the day when the second Pole in our history flew into…

2025-06-25 | Rafał Muczyński | 5 minutes
Shooting

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

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

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

UF PRO Introduces Waist/Flex Belts to Its Product Line

UF PRO, a Slovenian manufacturer of professional apparel and part of the Mehler Systems group, is adding a new accessory to its lineup…

2025-06-06 | Michał Ihnatów | 2 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

Enforce Tac 2025 starts on February 24th

Enforce Tac is an international trade fair aimed at law enforcement officers, experts from government agencies, and representatives of the…

2025-01-30 | Michał Ihnatów | 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…

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…

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…

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…

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 | 8 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…

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…

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

The End Of An Era – The „Bielik” And „Sęp” Submarines Decommissioned

At the Naval Base in Gdynia a ceremony was held of lowering the colours on ORP „Bielik” (297) and ORP „Sęp” (295) submarines of the 207 Kobben Type (Project IKL IK29).

On 14 December this year, at the Naval Base in Gdynia, a ceremony of lowering the colours on submarines of ORP “Sęp” (295) and ORP “Bielik” (297) of the 207 Kobben Type (Project IKL IK9) took place. Information on the plans of imminent decommissioning of the ships appeared on 20 January this year. The ships will be transferred to the Agency of Military Property (AMW) (Poland will withdraw final Kobben submarines).

ORP “Sęp” (295) used to serve in the Norwegian Navy as HNoMS Skolpen (S306) in 1966-2001. Then she was transferred to the Polish Navy, where she was commissioned on 16 August 2002

The ceremony was held with the participation of the Guard of Honour and Orchestra of the Navy. According to the naval ceremonial, the colours and ensigns lowered by the commanders of both ships, will be handed over to the Polish Navy Museum. The ceremony was attended by the Vice-Admiral Jarosław Ziemiański, Inspector of the Polish Navy commander of the 3rd Ship Flotilla )3. FO), the Rear Admiral Mirosław Jurkowlaniec, personnel of the Submarine Squadron (dOP), ship christener of ORP “Bielik”, Mrs. Jolanta Banach, ships’ companies and invited guests.

The Tuesday’s ceremony had symbolic character, because both ships were withdrawn from active service in May this year, after the Sunlight 2x38ST10A batteries had been dismantled, together with accompanying equipment, on the basis of a contract worth PLN 999,999 gross dated 16 February this year, and concluded between the Repair Shipyard in Gdańsk and Command of the Naval Base in Gdynia.

The only submarine remaining in the service of the Polish Navy is currently ORP “Orzeł” (291) of the Project 877E Paltus (NATO codename: Kilo), although since 3 November she has been undergoing routine maintenance at the PGZ Shipyard in Gdynia. Therefore at this point, the Navy of the Republic of Poland does not have any submarine in the active service (ORP Orzel nears re-entering service).

According to the current technical modernisation plan of the Polish Armed Forces, up to 2034 are to be purchased two new submarines as part of the “Orka” programmme (Scorpène Type from Naval Group, 212CD from TKMS or A26 from Saab), after the failure to acquire Swedish HSwMS Södermanland and Östergötland submarines, i.e.modified A17 Södermanland Type.

ORP “Bielik” (297) served in the Norwegian Navy as HNoMS Svenner (S309) in 1967-2001. Then she was transferred to the Polish Navy, where she was commissioned on 8 September 2003. Image: 3. FO

The ORP “Sęp” submarine was built at the German Nordseeverke Shipyard for the Royal Norwegian Navy. In 1966 she entered the Norwegian service as HNoMS Skolpen. After the end of service in Norwegian Navy, she was handed over to the Polish Armed Forces. For the first time on the submarine numbered 295, the white and red flag were raised on 16v August 2002. The ship’s christener was Mrs. Małgorzata Szmajdzińska, the wife of the then Minister of National Defence, and the ceremony was held at the Naval Base in Gdynia. For over 19 years, the ship sailed more than 30,000 nautical miles, performing 296 immersions and spending 320 days at sea (of which 149 submerged). The “Sęp” participated in domestic and international exercises, among others Anakonda, Baltops, Crown Eagle, Smer/Medex, Bold Monarch, Dynamic Monarch, Danex, Passex, Dragon and Ostrobok.

The ORP “Bielik” was launched on 27 January 1967 at the German Nordseewerke Shipyard. She was commissioned to the Norwegian Navy in 1967 as HNoMS Svenner, and after her retitement from the service in 2001, the ship was handed over to the Polish Navy. Raising the white and red colours took place on 8 bSeptember 2003 at the Norwegian Naval Base in Bergen, and her official commissioning took place on 24 October 2003 at the Naval Base in Gdynia. The ship’s christener was Mrs. Jolanta Banach, the Secretary of State in the Ministry of Economy, Work and Social Policy. Over the 18-year period of flyingh the white and red colours, three times (14.01 – 29.04.2004; 11.10. 2006 – 30.03.2007, 28.10.2010 – 25.02.2011) she participated in the NATO anti-terrorist operations Active Endeavour in the Mediterranean. During her service in the Navy of the Republic of Poland, she sailed almost 57,000 nautical miles, performing 186 immersions, and spending 879 days at sea (of which 334 submerged). ORP “Bielik” participated in the most important international maneuvers in the Baltic Sea named Baltops, as well as in many domestic and international exercises, among others Joint Maritime Course, Crown Eagle, Anakonda, Smer/Medex, Bold Monarch, Dynamic Monarch, Danex, Passex, Dragon and Ostrobok.

The remaining two Polish Kobben Type submarines, the ex-ORP “Sokół” (294) and ex-ORP “Kondor” (297) were decommissioned on 8 June 2018 and 20 December 2017 respectively. The former was transferred last year to the Polish Navy Museum.

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