Lockheed Martin To Deliver VLS For Polish Frigates
On the 1 February, the Polish Armament Group (PGZ) announced signing a deal under Direct Commercial Sales with Lockheed Martin for the delivery of Mark 41 Vertical Launch Systems for the Polish coastal defense frigates “Swordfish” (Miecznik). According to PGZ, the Mk41 systems will include the Extensible Launching System (ExLS) for CAMM/CAMM-ER missiles. Each Swordfish will be equipped with 4 launchers, each of them containing 8 cells for missiles.
The Swordfish Program assumes that 3 frigates based on the Arrowhead 140 project will be manufactured and delivered for the Polish Navy between 2028 and 2034. The main aim of the project is to replace the outdated Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates which remain in Polish service.
The Mk41 VLS is the most common maritime launcher within NATO. Its ability to integrate with various types of missiles makes it a versatile and flexible tool in any navy arsenal. It can launch such missiles as anti-aircraft RIM-162 ESSM Block 1, RIM-174 SM-6 ERAM, RGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missiles, and other types of munitions. The ExLS module allows for the fitting of CAMM/CAMM-ER missiles in Mk41 VLS. The CAMM missile family will be the main surface-to-air weapon used by the Miecznik frigates. The frigates will be ultimately equipped with a CAMM-MR missile, which will be developed through cooperation between MBDA UK and PGZ. The Mk41 VLS can carry up to 4 CAMM missiles in a single cell, allowing the Polish frigate to hold up to 128 missiles for anti-aircraft and anti-missile defense.
The Mk41 VLS will not be the only weapons system mounted on the Swordfish frigates. The vessels will be equipped with 16 anti-ship RBS-15 Mk.III/Mk.IV missiles and Oto Melara 76mm automatic cannon. Besides the CAMM missiles, the ship’s anti-aircraft defense will consist of two OSU 35-Tryton systems manufactured by PIT-Radwar.