The hurricane on Gdynia Oxy is closing the series of Swords. Last frigate under construction

On 28 April, the ceremony of burning the first sheet of sheet metal for the future ORP was held at the Polish Naval Shipyard in Gdynia. Hurricane, the third and last frigate built under the Swordfish Program. From that moment on, all three ships are already in production to become the basis of the new capabilities of the Polish Navy.

In practice program MIecznik it ceases to be a string of individual celebrations and becomes a test of the organisation of work of the entire industrial base. It will now be crucial for the Oxiwi shipyard to coordinate supply, prefabricate and assemble sections and prepare further stages of construction of three large warships.

Repeatability test, not only symbolism

The first ship of the series is always the hardest. It verifies documentation, work organisation, production processes, supply logistics and cooperation with subcontractors. The second shows whether the conclusions of the prototype construction can be transferred to another frigate. The third should confirm whether the program actually benefits from the effect of the series.

That's why they came. ORP Hurricane is more important than the celebration itself. If program MIecznik to rebuild national competence in the construction of large warships, it will be crucial not only to launch the future ORP "Wicher" but also to carry out frigate work efficiently Storm and Hurricane.

Only the third ship will show whether the industry can benefit from repeatability: improve production organisation, better coordinate work and reduce risks typical of such a complex ship program.

The hardest one will come after cutting the sheets.

Sheet burning has, above all, a symbolic dimension. It will be much more important for the Sword Programme to maintain continuity of work after today's ceremony, assemble further sections and prepare ships for the most demanding stage, namely equipping, integrating ship systems and port and sea tests.

Fregata is not a simple hull to which weapons are added at the end. It is a complex warship in which propulsion, combat systems, sensors, communications, weapons and on-board infrastructure must form a coherent whole. Therefore, the most important thing for the Polish Navy is not just to start construction Hurricane, but whether all three ships will be inducted into service within the assumed deadlines and with real combat capabilities.

Program MIecznik Needs continuity

Today's event has another dimension. Future ORP Hurricane closes the ordered series of three frigates. It is a success of the program, but at the same time a question about the future of the national shipbuilding industry after the completion of this construction.

A shipyard that rebuilds competence on frigates needs continuity. Personnel, co-operators, documentation, technological processes and production facilities cannot function exclusively from one programme to another. If the Sword is to be more than a single modernisation effort, the state should think about how to maintain industrial capacity also after the transfer of three Navy frigates.

This is where the solemn language of communications ends, and the real maritime policy of the state begins.

Hurricane as a test for the whole system

Future ORP Hurricane So it won't just be the third frigate on the schedule. It'll be a test for yard, consortium, suppliers and contracting authority: from planning, supervision, timeliness and ability to carry out work on several large ships simultaneously.

The most important thing for the Polish Navy remains: that from the steel cut today a full-value warship, capable of operation in the Baltic Sea and in NATO teams, should be built. The celebration was a necessary symbol. Now the less spectacular part begins, but much more important – the daily, technical work that will decide the value of the entire program.