Saab has launched ORP Henryk Zygalski, the second signals intelligence (SIGINT) ship it is building for the Polish Navy.
The 2,200-tonne vessel launched yesterday (Wednesday) is the second ship in the programme and is being constructed by subcontractor Remontowa Shipbuilding in Gdansk. She has been named after a Polish mathematician and cryptologist who helped crack the German WW2 Enigma code.
The first steel for ORP Henryk Zygalski was cut in late 2023 and her keel was laid in January 2024. Her sister ship, the first-in-class ORP Jerzy Różycki, was launched at the start of July last year; she is due to be delivered to the Polish Navy in 2027, with ORP Henryk Zygalski set to follow in 2028.
Between now and then both warships will be undergoing a final fitting-out process to get equipped with reconnaissance systems, followed by a series of sea trials. Both ships will be based in the main Polish Navy port in Gdynia.
Head of Saab’s Kockums division Mats Wicksell commented: “We are pleased to see the second Polish SIGINT ship successfully launched today. With this important project we are strengthening cooperation between Swedish and Polish industries in support of European security in the Baltic Sea region.”
CEO of Remontowa Shipbuilding Dariusz Jaguszewski added: “I would like to thank the Armament Agency for its trust and for ordering the most modern intelligence ships in the DELFIN programme, as well as for continuing its cooperation with our shipyard, which, after many years, has returned to its role as a proven supplier to the Polish Navy.
“I make no secret of the fact that we are counting on further opportunities for cooperation, and I am already declaring our readiness for further projects.”
Polish company MMC is supplying supporting design work, while prime contractor Saab is responsible for supply and integration of the vessels’ mission systems.
- You can read more details on the Saab website and the Remontowa Shipbuilding website