Photo: Polish Ministry of Defense
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That modernization
plan will involve spending more than $4.3 billion over the next decade on the
Navy and possibly joining with Norway
for joint procurement of new submarines.
"Poland is
changing, developing, renovating roads, kindergartens, nurseries,
museums," said Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz. "Entire neighbourhoods in
our cities are changing ... but we also remember defense."
The Polish Press Agency
reported Kopacz made the comment at the launching at the port of Gdańsk
of the ORP Cormorant II, which will "inevitably increase the security of
shipping routes and marine training grounds."
"This is our
priority, we will implement these orders with Polish contractors," she
said.
The ship launched,
a first of class, is 192 feet long and armed with two 23 mm guns and two
Strela-2M missiles an Oerlikon KDA 35mm anti-aircraft gun.
No details were
given as to launch dates for the other two vessels.
In a related
development, Poland has
apparently held talks with Norway
about cooperation with Norway
on possible submarine procurement, the Norwegian Ministry of Defense reported.
"The
acquisition of new submarines will be costly," the Norwegian ministry
said. "Norway
is working to achieve a comprehensive submarine cooperation on new submarines
with other countries so as to reduce costs.
"The Ministry
of Defense has recently had discussions with other nations. Poland has a specification that is quite similar
to Norway 's,
and it is therefore interesting to consider closer to a possible collaboration
on procurement, operation and maintenance.
"Norway will intensify discussions with Poland ...,"
it said.
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