Poland launches first Miecznik-class frigate equipped with over 100 missiles

Poland has commissioned the Wicher, the first of three Miecznik-class frigates slated for delivery by the end of 2029, to replace aging U.S.-built ships from the early 2000s. The class is based on Babcock International's Arrowhead-140 design and measures 138 metres long and 20 metres wide, with a complement of 120 sailors and a top speed of 28 knots powered by four Rolls-Royce Solutions MTU 20V8000 M71 diesel engines (33.6 MW total).

The frigates feature Lockheed Martin Mk 41 vertical launch systems that can accommodate up to 128 MBDA Sea Ceptor CAMM surface-to-air missiles, some in the extended-range MR variant, and eight Kongsberg NSM Block 1A anti-ship/cruise missiles with ranges exceeding 300 kilometres. Additional armament includes short-range anti-air guns and 12.7 mm machine guns, while torpedoes are supplied by a Franco-Italian Eurotorp consortium. The ships are intended for operations in the Baltic Sea, coastal missions and NATO assignments, with a planned operational range of 8 000 nautical miles.