To find a needle, you gotta first find a ft in the Baltic

Which is?

Let's imagine that the enemy is going to attack and we're sending our submarines to sea. They go below the surface and... they're gone. The enemy does not know in which area they operate or precisely what tasks they have been assigned. Of course, he can effort to track them, but this requires the engagement of crucial forces – several, or even several, submarines and helicopters. All of this has consequences erstwhile it comes to the tactics of the invasive forces, and thus the operation itself. And it is not the end – the submarine can not only bind the forces of the enemy, but besides attack them unnoticed. Sink the ship key to the formation, send the supply units down and break the supply chains for the military. In addition, there are wide opportunities to get intelligence. It is peculiarly crucial now that the nature of armed conflicts is changing.

The border between war and peace fades. The fight is increasingly taking place in the half shadow below the threshold of the conventional war. The importance of diversions, hybrid actions...

A good example of this is what is presently happening in the Baltic Sea. Russian activity is increasing. We have GPS interference, hard to explain incidents around critical infrastructure, a shadow fleet that carries an embargo-covered oil. In specified circumstances, good designation is crucial – both for the armed forces and for the state. And the submarine has many possibilities here than the submarines. due to the fact that he's not so addicted to the weather. It can carry out tasks with strong wind, with advanced wave – underwater it does not matter. Plus, he's able to approach his opponent truly close. Operate in the immediate vicinity of land, suspicious ships, ships and stay unnoticed. All this makes it essential to have submarines.

In Poland, I guess not everyone is convinced.

I have a feeling we've wasted quite a few time discussing why we even request these kinds of units. Yet, in the largest countries on the Baltic Sea, no 1 even raises specified doubts. Swedes and Germany modernize the submarine fleet. The Danes and Finns are considering reactivated. In the current geopolitical situation, they are asked to own submarines.

On the shallow and closed Baltic?

Yes – on a shallow and partially enclosed by the Danish Baltic Straits. By the way, it is very good that in our public space we started to talk about the specificity of this water tank and the appropriateness of utilizing submarines on it. However, I would anticipate that the substantive arguments which the sailors themselves and, in part, the experts themselves have begun to mention will close the discussion. Meanwhile, she's still...

Indeed, the average depth of the Baltic is alternatively tiny – barely exceeds 50 m. but that the sea is characterized by very variable hydrological conditions. The layers of water at different temperatures and salinity are arranged so that the sound under the surface spreads irregularly. This makes it hard to track a ship moving underwater. Moreover, there are quite a few wrecks at the bottom of the Baltic, while there is simply quite a few movement on the surface. All these units make noise, in turn underwater obstacles reflect sounds emitted by sonars to search for submarines. So the ZOP forces have a hard nut to crack. In fact, sailors say: “The tracking of a submarine is usually like uncovering a needle in a haystack. But in the Baltic, we go up a step. First you gotta find the table."

In conclusion, submarines are worth having. Question is, what units do we need?

Above all, they must be ships equipped with modern sonar systems. They should supply adequate separation between our ship and enemy units. The aim is for the crew to be able to identify and find possible targets from the maximum possible distance. And our Orki, according to the requirements of the Ministry of Defence, will have specified equipment. It may be possible that their crews will usage side sonar antennas. If that happens, it will be an additional asset, due to the fact that so far our submarines have not had specified devices.

Another crucial issue is the optoelectronic head, which will take over as a periscope. This is simply a solution utilized in most modern ships. The head allows for little time to illustrate a larger area, and in addition, it will shortly be possible to increase its capabilities with artificial intelligence. Of course, the periscope won't go completely back. any manufacturers will leave it, others will usage this kind of solution in combination with optoelectronics to preserve the alleged redundancy effect. The periscope can be utilized in case of disturbances or failures of advanced systems, which can never be excluded.

I presume the Orcs will besides receive top-class weapons – torpedo but besides mine. The Eagle ORP has the ability to place mines on the seabed, only that we have any limitations here. Now that should change. The revolutionary change, however, is intended to be primarily to equip fresh ships with maneuvering missiles – fired from under the water and capable of damaging land targets from long distances. It is not said that the units obtained by Poland will have them already at the time of purchase. However, it is crucial that they can be adapted rapidly if necessary. specified a position is very tempting, though there are no skeptics among the subject experts. The rocket launched from the deck initially rises vertically. Before he moves towards the mark and starts maneuvering, the opponent has a chance to track down where he was launched. Therefore, any manufacturers are working on a solution whereby a rocket released from the torpedo launcher will be moving in a peculiar pod under water for a while, and only at any distance from the ship will it come to the surface and ascend into the air.

The key issue is besides the provision of air-independent propulsion (AIP), ion-lithic battery, or a combination of both systems. This solution will let individuals to operate for about 2 weeks, without going to the surface. Older-type ships must do so to recharge conventional batteries utilizing diesel engines.

And there will be a lot more news. The Orcs will open a completely fresh era in the past of our navy.

We talk a lot about the Baltic, but as I realize it, we don't buy ships exclusively for it.

Definitely not. Firstly, we must have a tool that could, if necessary, be utilized to support NATO allies, even in the North Sea or the Atlantic. Secondly, the ship itself must be large adequate to keep its modernisation potential. In another words, an adequate large platform gives you the chance to add fresh weapons or systems in the future if they happen in the future. Submarine ships are usually bought for 30 or 40 years.

Of course, I heard opinions that a large submarine is not suitable for a tiny Baltic, but that is not rather so. Indeed, a large ship will not be able to operate in parts of coastal areas. Thanks to modern systems, however, it will illustrate litoral water, even remaining distant from it in any distance. Besides, we can launch unmanned submarines into this area. These technologies are developing very dynamically. specified a solution reduces the hazard of losing a ship, which, not only is filled with qualified crew, very costly in addition.

On the 1 hand, the submarine is simply a lone hunter, on the other, an component of a certain system. What will be the place of fresh units in a complex mechanism, which becomes the Polish army and the Polish defence system?

They will become an integral part of it. They will exchange information with the environment – aircraft, submarines, coastal artillery. Data will flow through radio and electronic systems. What is crucial – in real time. The information collected, for example, by the Saab early informing aircraft in certain situations will translate into the course of the submarine mission. Conversely, what comes out of the submarine will be applicable to Saab's activities, but besides to another aircraft or naval components. The submarine will be able, for example, to indicate targets for the Marine Rocket Unit.

Armed forces are putting expanding emphasis on information acquisition and analysis. Today, it is crucial for the functioning of the armed forces. A technological revolution is taking place before our eyes, and the military is building a complementary network, which will be an crucial component of the Navy. shortly we'll have fresh ships to reconnoiter the Delfin's radio-electronic project. And this strategy will besides include Ork.

In the meantime, going down below, I'd like to ask how Orka will change the coat itself. After all, modern submarines should receive appropriate support – decently prepared rescue units, decompression chambers system, training facilities...

The acquisition of ships under the Ork program will be a real revolution for the Navy. It will besides mean a qualitative leap in technology facilities. Along with the ships, we will get a simulator that will enable full training of specialists assigned to individual positions. We've never had a device like this before. The training was conducted straight on the ship. We very much want the simulator to be assigned straight to the submarine squadron. To become an integral part of it.

The acquisition of fresh ships will besides affect the improvement of logistics. It will grow and be enriched with even the essential installations to operate the AIP system. Our specialists will gain a full fresh cognition and competence.

Before that happens, however, we are on the ORP “Earl” – a utilized Kilo kind unit, which entered the line even in the late 1980s, and in the service so far managed to keep mostly thanks to the determination of the crew.

Indeed, in the case of the Eagle, we face many problems. First of all, we have problem getting spare parts. It is now impossible to bring them from Russia, and in NATO only Romania is utilizing a akin ship. However, we are able to supplement the shortcomings. This year the ship will undergo the replacement of compressors, and for the beginning of the next year, it is planned to get fresh rescue suits. After this process has been completed, the Eagle will be able to practice safely again in immersion.

It's a very useful ship for crew training. Of course, individual can say – we are dealing with an old technology that does not adhere to the units that Poland intends to buy. And of course he'll be right. But thanks to the ORP “Earl”, young adepts have the chance to tame themselves with this kind of unit. They learn how to operate on board, procedures for descending and rising. That's a lot. If this ship abruptly ran out, we'd gotta start all the training from scratch. But from our point of view, time is shrinking a lot. The Eagle will stay in line until 2031. And since the construction of fresh ships will take longer, we must number on a bridge solution. Especially since specified a temporary ship could become a magnet for young people, which is not easy to get for service. I'm certain it would besides make it easier to wait for Orka.

I'm counting on fresh ships. And not only due to the fact that they would importantly strengthen our armed forces. Together with their acquisition, we would besides receive a immense boost of knowledge, which in the long word could besides stimulate the Polish economy. It is primarily about technology transfer, the ability to implement the most modern solutions in our country. There was a boom for submarines in the world. Countries with underwater fleets search to make them, to strengthen their potential. This list includes France, large Britain, Sweden, Norway. The trend is absolutely increasing. It's worth it, due to the fact that it brings large benefits.