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Launching the first Dolphin at the Repair Shipyard
Author:Mariusz Dasiewicz
Today, on 1 July, Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Repair Yard in Gdańsk was launching a prototype electronic recognition ship SIGINT (Signals Intelligence Ships) for the Polish Navy – the future ORP Jerzy Różicki.
In the article
Conduct of the ceremony
The ceremony was held today at Shipbuilding Repair Yard in Gdańsk. It was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Defence, the Armed Forces Agency, the Head of Maritime Technology, the Navy, the Board of Intelligence and Reconnaissance Analysis and foreign project partners. Baptism and launching took place with the participation of the godmother, champagne and national anthem, accompanied by a tow truck typhoon signal Lesko. Deputy Prime Minister and head of MON Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz stressed in a letter read during the ceremony that the unit "brings Poland closer to achieving new capabilities in collecting information about opponents and potential threats from the sea".
Importance of the Dolphin Programme
Programme Dolphin, being one of the most important programs of modernization of Polish exploratory capabilities, involves acquiring two modern exploratory vessels of project 107 Dolphin, which will eventually replace the used project units 863 — ORP Hydrograph and ORP Navigation. Both of these ships, although still formally in the composition of the Polish Navy, no longer meet the modern requirements of conducting reconnaissance operations, both in technological and tactical terms.
The new SIGINT units will be a qualitative leap in electromagnetic detection capability. Their equipment will allow comprehensive monitoring of the electromagnetic spectrum, including detection, interception and analysis of radio, radar and data transmission, both for the purposes of in the Polish NavyAnd allied structures. They will also be able to carry out tasks on a continuous basis, with full operational autonomy, which is of particular importance in the Baltic region, where hydrographic characteristics and high activity of third country entities force continuous presence and readiness to act.
Implementation of the programme Dolphin it fits directly into the priorities of the Strategic Defence Review and Poland's commitment to NATO, especially as regards its contribution to the allied recognition system. The security of critical infrastructure at sea is also gaining importance, with the increasing threat from hybrid and provocative activities forcing the development of tools capable of early detection of anomalies and countering escalation. In this sense, program ships Dolphin will be not only information gathering platforms but also an integral part of the national and allied crisis response system.
Their presence in the Baltic will increase situational transparency, enable more effective detection of threats and improve coordination with other NATO naval and air forces. Through integration with allied systems ships Dolphin will be able to operate under Joint ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance) operations, acting as key information hubs within larger operational structures.
Construction history Jerzy Różicki
The construction of the first SIGINT ship for the Polish Navy began in April 2023 with a symbolic cut of the first plates. A few months later, in July 2023, a keel was laid down – an event traditionally recognized as the formal beginning of the construction of the unit. Today's launch, which took place on 1 July in Gdańsk, represents a breakthrough moment – the transition from the construction phase to the equipment and testing stage.
In the following months, future ORPs Jerzy Różicki will undergo a number of port trials (HAT) and sea trials (SAT), which will be carried out under the supervision of Remontowa Shipbuilding and Swedish Saab. In parallel with the trials, the unit will gradually be equipped with specialised mission systems, crucial for conducting radioelectronic recognition. Only after their integration and positive completion of trials will the ship be handed over to the user – the Navy of Poland.
Technical parameters and future tasks
SIGINT class ships built under the programme Dolphin are units of approximately 74 metres in length and displacement of 3000 tons. Each of them will be driven by four 990 kW diesel engines each to ensure adequate operational coverage and autonomy in activities carried out in high-risk waters. Zwill constitute an aid from 35 to 40 seafarers for whom 35 cabins are provided — indicating comfortable service conditions necessary for long-term missions.
Operational capabilities of project entities Dolphin include a full spectrum of radio-electronic recognition, including ELINT class capability (radiar emission recognition) and COMINT (communication recognition). Ships will monitor radio and radar bands, intercept radio communications and locate electromagnetic emission sources, supporting the activities of the Polish Navy and NATO allies forces – including operations such as the Baltic Wart. These capacities will provide an information advantage and increase the state's resilience to hybrid activities in the Baltic Sea region.
Strategic context and international cooperation
The Swedish Saab Group, acting as the main contractor, is responsible for the development and integration of mission systems. Shipbuilding S.A. is responsible for the construction of ships and for the implementation of port and sea tests, while Gdynia MMC was responsible for the development of technical documentation. Programme Dolphin is an example of effective industrial and technological cooperation, while strengthening the security system of the Baltic Sea States and the operational capabilities of the North Atlantic Alliance.
Today's launch of the future ORP Jerzy Różicki In Gdańsk it is a milestone in the process of developing national electronic recognition capabilities. With the next one built at the Shipbuilding ORP Henryk Zygalski, the ships will strengthen the capabilities of the Polish Navy in the area of situational awareness in the Baltic Sea, increasing the efficiency of response and coordination in allied operations.
Written by Mariusz Dasiewicz
