International economic partnerships help ensure geopolitical stability—something Europe learned post-WWII through the European Coal and Steel Community, which later became the European Union. Today, industrial ties remain essential to strengthening alliances and military capability. The recent UK–Poland defence treaty underlines that commitment, as Poland ramps up defence spending to the highest NATO GDP share, expanding its forces and capabilities by drawing on the expertise of its allies. Launched in 2021, the MIECZNIK programme for the Polish navy lies at the heart of military and industrial collaboration initiated by the country. The programme covers the construction of three advanced multi-purpose frigates, built through a partnership between Poland, the United Kingdom and continental Europe. Poland chose not to outsource the production of this capability. The frigates are being built in the Gdynia shipyard in Poland, led by the PGZ–MIECZNIK consortium, with international partners including Thales, Babcock and MBDA contributing proven designs, systems and know-how. This approach helps Poland compress timelines, manage risk, and develop and upskill the local workforce—building the skills and industrial depth needed to own and sustain the capability long term.
The UK defence industry, supported by sustained government-to-government collaboration, proposed the Arrowhead 140 design—an export-ready, multi-mission frigate developed by Babcock and adapted to Polish requirements. It provides a mature, flexible foundation that can be transferred, tailored and built locally, enabling structured technical exchange and long-term industrial partnerships. The Miecznik frigates will strengthen national defence and maritime security in the Baltic Sea and support NATO’s collective defence. NATO-proven architectures and mission systems will enable seamless operational collaboration, delivering shared situational awareness, faster decision-making and greater mission effectiveness.
“From the outset, MIECZNIK was about more than delivering a world-leading combat system. It was about helping Poland build the skills and industrial depth to own and sustain this capability for the long term. With the support of the UK and Polish governments, we were able to bring proven technology into Poland while working side-by-side with Polish industry to embed that expertise locally.” said Francesco Da Re – Programme Director for MIECZNIK at Thales.
“The Miecznik programme is a fantastic example of how defence cooperation between allies can deliver real capability. It brings together expertise from the United Kingdom and Poland to help address today’s evolving security challenges.” said Lord Coaker – UK Minister of State for Defence.
As European nations invest in sovereignty—balancing local priorities with international partnerships—Poland’s MIECZNIK approach offers a compelling model. Building on foundational collaboration between the UK, the Netherlands, France, Romania and Poland, the programme demonstrates how trusted allied cooperation and European industrial collaboration can deliver capability while strengthening domestic resilience. Thales teams across Europe are supporting the delivery of sensors and systems and providing knowledge and technology transfers to Poland, equipping the ships for a broad range of missions. This includes participation in international fleets, which is enabled by the TACTICOS Combat Management System developed by Thales in the Netherlands. This wider UK–Poland defence relationship is also reflected in programmes such as CAMM-MR, highlighting the fulfilment of the potential of Sea Ceptor (MIECZNIK) and NAREW—that are supporting Polish sovereignty and industry.
