Thales will equip the Polish Navy’s “Miecznik” frigates with its Tacticos combat management system, sonars, infrared sensors and radars. The first ship is due to enter service in 2029 as part of a strategic partnership between Thales and the PGZ-Miecnik consortium (led by Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa).
The multi-purpose frigates are designed for a wide range of tasks at sea – such as securing sea lines of communication and critical infrastructure – and will significantly increase the capabilities of the Polish Navy, also within NATO. The investment in the frigates represents a further step for Poland further step for Poland towards a greatly improved army. Several weapons deals worth billions have already been concluded with various manufacturers in recent months. The Tacticos combat management system from Thales will be the central command and decision-making element of the frigate combat system. Its function and performance – support for sensor control, image compilation, situation assessment, action support and weapon control – are crucial for the operational effectiveness of the ship, according to a recent press release. The sonar system consists of the BlueHunter hull sonar and the Captas-2 towed sonar and enables a multi-sensor assessment of the underwater situation. https://militaeraktuell.at/bundesheer-bevoelkerung-befuerwortet-budgeterhoehung/ “As one of our closest allies, we are further expanding our partnership with Poland to ensure the security of Europe. These new Polish frigates, equipped with the best of British industry, will be an excellent addition to the Polish fleet and will strengthen NATO’s capabilities,” said James Cartlidge, UK Minister for Defense Procurement. The deal went through with the support of the UK Government. Thales is also supplying two complementary radars. One is the SM400 Block2 and the other is the NS50. The SM400 radar is designed for remote air and surface surveillance, helicopter control and weapons control up to a range of 400 kilometers. The NS50 radar provides air and surface detection, tracking and classification. The frigates will also be equipped with the Artemis 360-degree infrared search and tracking system and the STIR 1.2 EO Mk2 fire control radar.
