The Baltic Sea is gaining increasing importance for Europe's security 0 4

Vice Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz announced that Poland will cooperate with Sweden under the Orka program. This is one of the most long-term and anticipated projects for the modernization of the Polish Navy.

According to a communiqué from the Ministry of Defense, the Polish Navy will receive three A26 Blekinge-class submarines from the Swedish corporation Saab. The first is expected to arrive in Poland in 2030.

Seven companies from six countries participated in the tender, including Germany's ThyssenKrupp, Italy's Fincantieri, and France's Naval Group.

"Sweden presented the best offer according to the team, and this was confirmed by the Council of Ministers during an objective analysis of all criteria, both in terms of delivery times and price, cost, and operational capability, especially in the Baltic Sea," emphasized Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz.

The minister added that the Swedes announced the transfer of technology and investments in the Polish shipbuilding industry. This is necessary to ensure the ability to independently service and repair the vessels.

The new ships will be able to dive to depths of over 200 meters and operate autonomously for at least 30 days. They will be equipped with torpedoes and missile systems capable of hitting targets on the coast and, depending on the configuration, inland.

The cost of acquiring the three ships is estimated by the Ministry of Defense at around 10 billion zlotys.

In an interview with Euronews, Lieutenant General Jaroslaw Gromadzinski assesses the Ministry of Defense's decision as "very good," emphasizing that the purchase of three modern ships guarantees continuity of combat capabilities and servicing of submarines with a wide range of applications.

"I support the contract with Sweden because the A26 submarine has a modular design that can be configured according to the customer's needs. Any equipment we purchase is intended to protect Poland's borders and the integrity of our territory. The advantage of this ship is that it is designed with the specifics of the Baltic Sea in mind," noted the general.

The state of the Polish Navy

Currently, the Polish fleet consists of about 40 ships, of which nearly 30 are combat vessels. They are primarily based in Gdynia and Swinoujscie.

Their technical condition has been a concern for many years; the Polish Navy has long been the least funded branch of the armed forces.

The only operational submarine, ORP "Orzel," built in 1985 in the USSR, spends more time in major repairs than at sea.

The largest ships, including the Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates, are also outdated, with a service life exceeding 45 years. The ORP "Kaszub" corvette is not much younger, at 38 years old.

Most of the remaining ships primarily perform auxiliary functions. The fleet includes numerous mine sweepers, rescue, and patrol vessels, including the ORP "Ślązak," which costs 1.2 billion zlotys. The most modern element of the naval forces remains the Kormoran II-class mine countermeasures vessels.

In terms of strike capabilities and anti-submarine warfare, the Navy clearly stands out compared to other branches of the armed forces. The situation is much better regarding coastal defense.

General Gromadzinski notes that the Navy has yet to have a strategic vision for its operations.

"The Navy has not yet had a clearly articulated vision, unlike the land forces. We have the largest land army in Europe, but this is mainly due to the fact that we border an aggressor. In my opinion, we have not fully realized what role the Navy should play," emphasizes the general.

Security of the Baltic Sea

On January 14, 2025, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced the start of the Baltic Sentry mission. This initiative aims to counter Russian sabotage activities in the Baltic Sea and limit the operations of the so-called "shadow fleet."

Russian tankers, often sailing under the flags of third countries, transported oil, particularly to India, despite sanctions. At the same time, reports of damage to underwater cables have emerged.

The security of the Baltic Sea is crucial for Poland.

There are three oil platforms belonging to Orlen in the sea. An oil port in Gdansk operates, through which oil is supplied to refineries in Poland and Germany. The marine wind energy sector is also developing. The first wind farm with a capacity of 1.14 GW, being built 23 km from the shore, is expected to be operational in 2026. It will provide energy for 1.5 million households and reduce CO₂ emissions by 2.8 million tons per year.

The LNG terminal in Swinoujscie, with a capacity of over 8 billion cubic meters per year, and the Baltic Pipe pipeline, with a capacity of 10 billion cubic meters, also play a key role. According to analysts, both investments fully cover Poland's annual gas needs.

Additionally, numerous power and telecommunications cables have been laid along the bottom of the Baltic Sea. Poland has three major container terminals - the Baltic Hub in Gdansk, BCT, and GCT in Gdynia, as well as facilities in the Szczecin-Swinoujscie port complex.

The Navy, supported by other armed forces and NATO allies, is responsible for the security of this infrastructure.

However, experts warn that the ongoing underfunding of the fleet increases the risk to key facilities.

"We need to build two or even three lines of defense. First, we need reconnaissance in various forms: submarines and surface ships, sensor networks, and reconnaissance aircraft. This is a very complex system, and it is economically unfeasible for one country to maintain it. However, in cooperation with Sweden, Finland, Denmark, or Germany, we could gain a technological, informational, and strategic advantage," explains the general.

The second line of defense, the expert emphasizes, should be anti-aircraft systems on ships and platforms, and the third should be kinetic strikes against enemy targets appearing in the Baltic.

The Baltic Fleet of Russia and NATO

The Baltic Fleet, one of the oldest naval formations of Russia, is stationed in Baltiysk at the entrance to the Vistula Lagoon and in the Gulf of Finland.

It includes, among others, a submarine, a destroyer, two frigates, four corvettes, and a dozen small missile ships and landing vessels.

The accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO has changed the balance of power in the region. The support of Poland, Germany, and Denmark has further strengthened the alliance's advantage. As a result, Russian ships find themselves in a much more difficult position.

The most vulnerable are the ships stationed in the Gulf of Finland - a body of water that can be quickly blocked by mines or anti-ship missiles in the event of a conflict.

Strategic islands, especially Gotland, also hold immense significance. Control over it determines dominance in the Baltic, which is why Sweden has already strengthened its military security.

The Kremlin seeks to limit NATO's capabilities while avoiding open confrontation. To this end, it employs a "shadow fleet" and sabotage activities.

"Russia keeps a fleet in the Baltic, and our task is to lock it in ports so that, if necessary, it becomes an easy target for artillery. In the event of a conflict, we must not allow these vessels to go to sea," warns the general.

"We must guard the ports particularly carefully, especially Swinoujscie. Since the enemy is clearly defined in the east, the main forces of maritime defense, including command, should be located in the west, in Swinoujscie - out of reach of the enemy," added Lieutenant General Jaroslaw Gromadzinski in an interview with Euronews.

As a result, the Baltic is becoming a theater of strategic competition, with the advantage clearly on the side of the alliance countries.