Naval Technology

Hanwha pursues Polish Orka submarine support with WB Group

An MoU was signed, forming an independent Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul package in support of the Orka programme.

John Hill September 10 2024

Hanwha Ocean has approached a major Polish military technology company, WB Group, to work together in pursuit of supporting Poland’s Orka submarine programme.

Both parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding to that effect (MoU) on 3 September during the MSPO 2024 exhibition in Kiecle, Poland.

Fundamentally, their cooperation will be based on forming an independent Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) package in support of the Orka programme.

Hanwha Ocean’s KSS III submarine model is already a major contender for the programme, which the potential contractor said it was “ready to offer” in November 2023.

Global industrial cooperation

This is the latest international deal for the South Korean naval giant in its “localisation” agenda, as the company aims to expand its global influence in supporting various navies and local industries.

Lately, Hanwha Ocean agreed to perform MRO services to a 40,000 tonne, Lewis and Clark-class auxiliary ship, the Wally Schirra, at its shipyard in Geoje. Hanwha is the first Korean shipyard to be contracted for MRO services on a US Navy vessel.

Meanwhile, Poland is no stranger to the global naval market either. The country’s ballooning industry has been modernising at a rapid pace with the help of leading naval manufacturers such as Babcock. The British contractor recently extended its support for the Polish Navy’s Miecznik frigate programme until the very end of construction in 2031.

Around 20 people attended the signing of the MoU in Kiecle, including officials from both companies, Polish government officials and domestic and international partners related to the Republic of Korea’s KSS III Batch II submarine.

Polish President Andrzej Duda (second from the right) is visiting the Hanwha exhibition hall while attending 'MSPO2024' held in Kielce, Poland, on 3 September 2024 and is listening to an explanation of Hanwha Ocean's Specialised Vessel Overseas Business Division Vice President Seung-gyun Jeong (second from the left) and Hanwha Aerospace CEO Jae-il Son (first from the right) about Hanwha Ocean’s submarine technology and customised MRO solutions specialised for Poland. Credit: Hanwha.

Orka programme

These four new boats will, the Polish government have said, “constitute the basic combat and reconnaissance element of the Navy, and at the same time, thanks to the equipment with cruise missiles, they will be a key element of the state and allied military deterrence arsenal.”

Currently, the Polish Navy operate a single 1980s-era Russian-origin Kilo-class SSK.

The Orka programme has been in the conceptual stage of development since 2014. Initially, Poland only entertained the possibility of the French Scorpene-class, Sweden’s A26 Belikinge-class and Germany’s Type 212CD class diesel-electric submarine models.

However, the world has changed considerably since then and Poland is anticipated to be the largest military power in Europe in the coming years. The Central European republic can boast that defence spending is approximately 4% of its gross domestic product; Nato, meanwhile, has set the target at 2%.

In these new times of military demand and Polish preeminence, the Polish defence market is highly attractive, and this has prompted the cultivation of relationships with major suppliers such as Hanwha.

Already, the parent company provides K9 155mm howitzers, K239 Chunmoo multiple launch rocket systems, and K2 main battle tanks and KA-50 light attack fighters.