The Polish Navy has launched its largest surface combatant since the interwar period, the frigate Wicher. The warship, built locally according to a British design, is the first of three and part of a wide-ranging modernization program for the Polish Navy.
The Wicher is a multirole frigate with a length of 138 meters, a beam of approximately 20 meters, and a maximum displacement of approximately 7,700 tons. It will have a maximum range of approximately 8,000 nautical miles and a maximum speed of 28 knots.
The frigate is armed with MBDA CAMM missiles, Kongsberg Naval Strike Missiles, and a Leonardo 76mm Strales gun. It also features a Terma C-Guard system for self-defense and a Thales-provided sensor suite. The Wicher is expected to be commissioned in 2029, following sea trials and qualification tests.
