Poland is preparing to launch its most advanced naval intelligence ship to date—the ORP Jerzy Różycki—on July 1, 2025. Built at the Remontowa Shipbuilding S.A. shipyard in Gdańsk, the vessel marks the debut of the Delfin-class (Project 107) SIGINT (Signals Intelligence) ships, developed under a defense deal between the Polish Armament Agency and Saab Kockums AB signed in November 2022.
The Delfin-class project aims to fully modernize Poland’s maritime reconnaissance fleet by replacing the aging ORP Nawigator and ORP Hydrograf, both commissioned in the mid-1970s. Two new ships will be delivered by 2027 and based at the Naval Base in Gdynia under the 3rd Ship Flotilla’s Group of Reconnaissance Ships.
Construction of the ORP Jerzy Różycki officially began with steel cutting in April 2023, followed by keel laying three months later. Its sister ship, ORP Henryk Zygalski, began construction later that year. Both ships honor the legacy of Polish cryptologists who helped break the German Enigma code prior to World War II—a tribute carried over in the tradition of reassigning hull numbers from decommissioned vessels.
Measuring 74 meters in length and displacing up to 3,000 tons, the Delfin-class ships are built for precision and stealth. Each is powered by four 990 kW diesel generators driving azimuthal thrusters, with additional bow thrusters for refined maneuvering. Crew accommodations include 35 cabins supporting a complement of around 40 sailors.
Once structural construction and outfitting are complete, Saab will integrate an advanced suite of electronic intelligence systems. Though specific capabilities remain classified, the ships are expected to conduct wide-spectrum surveillance—intercepting radar, communications, underwater acoustics, and electromagnetic emissions. Their design is based on the Swedish Navy’s Artemis-class vessel, with tailored systems and architecture to meet Polish operational requirements.
The vessels represent Saab’s first full-system integration contract for a Polish SIGINT platform, managed through a local office established in Gdańsk in early 2024. Subsystems are being supplied by multiple international firms, while Det Norske Veritas (DNV) oversees classification and construction standards. The overall contract is valued at approximately €620 million.
Poland’s broader naval upgrade also includes Kormoran II-class mine countermeasure vessels and the Miecznik-class frigates, with a new rescue ship due by 2029. However, plans to replace the ORP Orzeł submarine remain pending, as the procurement process continues.
The Delfin-class ships are designed for high-end surveillance missions in the Baltic region, tasked with monitoring foreign naval activity, port operations, undersea infrastructure, and electromagnetic activity. As unarmed but technically advanced intelligence assets, these vessels will support both national and NATO operations—significantly boosting Poland’s maritime situational awareness amid rising geopolitical tensions in the Baltic Sea.
With the launch of the ORP Jerzy Różycki, Poland takes a decisive step toward establishing one of the most modern naval intelligence capabilities in Northern Europe.
