The Polish Navy marked a significant step in its naval modernisation programme with the launch of its first signal intelligence (SIGINT) vessel, ORP Jerzy Różycki, at the Remontowa Shipbuilding S.A. shipyard in Gdańsk on 1 July 2025. The vessel is the first of two ships being delivered as part of Poland’s ‘Delfin’ programme, developed in partnership with Swedish defence company Saab.

 

The launch ceremony was attended by representatives of the Polish Ministry of National Defence, the Polish Armaments Agency, the Polish Navy, and the Chief of Reconnaissance and Intelligence Analysis Directorate (J2). The vessel, named in honour of Polish cryptologist Jerzy Różycki, represents a key development in enhancing Poland’s maritime electronic intelligence capabilities.

 

 

“Płyń po morzach i oceanach świata, sław imię stoczniowców i polskiego marynarza, nadaję ci imię Jerzy Różycki” – tak wyglądała ceremonia 🎉 🎊 chrztu i wodowania nowego okrętu rozpoznania radioelektronicznego dla @MarWojRP. ⚓🇵🇱 👏
🎥 P. Leoniak/3 FO pic.twitter.com/ah67twLmg7

— Marynarka Wojenna RP/ Polish Navy (@MarWojRP) July 1, 2025

 

 

The ship is currently at an early stage of completion and will now be fitted with specialised reconnaissance and mission systems supplied and integrated by Saab. The company is also responsible for the overall coordination of the programme, while Remontowa Shipbuilding acts as the subcontractor for construction.

“Today marks a significant milestone with the launch of ORP Jerzy Różycki as a testament to the power of cooperation and shared vision,” said Micael Johansson, President and CEO of Saab. “This project exemplifies how nations around the Baltic Sea, with similar needs and experiences, can come together to develop solutions that benefit us all. It demonstrates the type of advanced technology and capabilities that will be imperative for Europe to stand strong against emerging threats and ensure the safety of our people and societies.”

Construction of the first vessel began with the initial steel cutting in April 2023, followed by keel laying in November the same year. The ship is expected to enter service with the Polish Navy by 2027, in line with the schedule set under the €620 million contract signed in 2022 between the Polish Armaments Agency and Saab.

 

 

A second vessel, to be named ORP Henryk Zygalski, is currently under construction at the same shipyard. Like its sister ship, it is named in honour of a Polish mathematician and cryptologist involved in the pre-war decryption of the German Enigma machine.

Both vessels are based on the same platform design as the Swedish Navy’s HMS Artemis, a SIGINT vessel that entered service in 2023. The Artemis was also developed in cooperation with Polish industry, including construction at Stocznia Remontowa Nauta and design input from MMC Ship Design & Marine Consulting in Gdynia.

 

The Polish Navy marked a significant step in its naval modernisation programme with the launch of its first signal intelligence (SIGINT) vessel, ORP Jerzy Różycki, at the Remontowa Shipbuilding S.A. shipyard in Gdańsk on 1 July 2025. The vessel is the first of two ships being delivered as part of Poland’s ‘Delfin’ programme, developed in partnership with Swedish defence company Saab.Image: Saab.

 

The SIGINT ships under the ‘Delfin’ programme will be capable of conducting electronic reconnaissance operations across the electromagnetic spectrum. While specific details about their onboard systems remain classified, the ships are expected to support missions in electronic intelligence (ELINT), communications intelligence (COMINT), and imagery intelligence (IMINT).

According to Saab, the vessels are designed for a high degree of interoperability with existing Swedish systems, which is expected to facilitate intelligence sharing and joint maritime awareness operations between Poland and Sweden. This operational compatibility also extends to Poland’s recent acquisition of two Saab 340 AEW aircraft equipped with Erieye early warning radar systems.

The programme forms part of broader strategic defence cooperation between Poland and Sweden, formalised in an intergovernmental agreement signed in November 2023. It also reflects Saab’s ongoing commitment to industrial collaboration in Poland.

 

 

In January 2024, Saab opened a dedicated office in Gdańsk to support its involvement in the Delfin programme. The facility is the company’s eighth in Poland and is located near the Remontowa shipyard, underscoring the importance of local coordination.

While Saab leads the programme and Remontowa builds the ships, several other Polish defence companies are also involved in the project. Their participation, however, remains undisclosed due to the sensitive nature of the mission systems.

The Delfin programme is regarded by both sides as a model of successful industrial cooperation. Its progress may also influence potential future collaborations, including the proposed sale of Saab’s A26 submarines to the Polish Navy under the Orka programme, which could further expand Polish-Swedish defence industry ties.