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Poland has launched the ORP Jerzy Rozycki, the country’s first-ever signal intelligence (SIGINT) vessel. The ship is one of two advanced spy ships ordered from Swedish defense giant Saab and represents a strategic milestone in Poland’s growing military preparedness in the face of rising tensions in the Baltic region.

The ship was launched on July 2, 2025, at the Remontowa Shipbuilding yard in Gdansk and is named after Jerzy Rozycki, a legendary Polish mathematician and cryptologist who, along with Marian Rejewski and Henryk Zygalski, helped break Nazi Germany’s Enigma code during the interwar period and World War II.

Poland’s Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said during the ceremony, “This is a significant strengthening of the Polish navy’s capabilities. It will enable more effective acquisition of reconnaissance data and countering threats in the Baltic Sea.”

He further emphasized the vessel’s importance in Poland’s growing defense architecture: “ORP Jerzy Rozycki will be an important element of security operations and support missions…to counter acts of sabotage and security breaches by Russia.”

The launch comes at a critical time for regional security. As Russia’s war against Ukraine continues, the Baltic Sea has become a geopolitical flashpoint. The presence of Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet”, a network of vessels using concealment tactics to evade sanctions, has been linked to suspicious maritime activities, including possible sabotage of undersea infrastructure.

In one such case this May, Polish military forces intervened when a Russian ship was spotted behaving “suspiciously” near a key undersea electricity cable. The Defense Ministry described its actions as “effective deterrence” and confirmed plans for a follow-up seabed inspection.

Response to emerging threats

The ORP Jerzy Rozycki is the first of two ships commissioned under Poland’s 2022 deal with Saab to enhance maritime electronic surveillance. The construction of the ship was subcontracted to Poland’s Remontowa Shipbuilding, with Swedish firm Saab completing the delivery and integration of the sophisticated mission systems.

The project is part of Poland’s broader ‘DELFIN’ program, designed to provide the Polish Navy with advanced SIGINT tools capable of intercepting and analyzing a wide range of electronic signals, including those emitted by foreign naval vessels. These systems will form the foundation for Poland’s ability to conduct real-time maritime surveillance, detect threats, and gather strategic intelligence.

“Ship-based electronic intelligence systems will enable the acquisition of intelligence data across the entire spectrum of maritime electronic intelligence (SIGINT),” Saab confirmed in a statement.

The second ship in the series, to be named ORP Henryk Zygalski, is expected to be completed by June 2027.

Regional cooperation and NATO alignment

The project reflects a growing security partnership between Poland and Sweden, two key players in NATO’s eastern flank. Swedish Deputy Defense Minister Peter Sandwall, who attended the launch ceremony, emphasized the importance of bilateral cooperation.

“Sweden needs Poland. It is about security, but also about a common vision of the threats in the Baltic. And that is why we are building the capabilities of our navies together,” Sandwall stated.

Poland and Sweden signed a strategic defense and economic partnership in 2024 to address growing regional threats and support Ukraine’s defense. The agreement focuses heavily on improving naval interoperability and joint infrastructure protection in the Baltic Sea.

“This project is an example of how countries around the Baltic Sea, with similar needs and experiences, can work together to develop solutions that benefit us all,” said Micael Johansson, President and CEO of Saab. “It is an example of the advanced technology and capabilities that are necessary for Europe to face new threats and ensure the safety of its citizens.”

Johansson reiterated that the project reflects a unified response to contemporary European security challenges, “Today marks a significant milestone with the launch of ORP Jerzy Rozycki as a testament to the power of cooperation and shared vision. 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,” he added.

Technical development and timeline

The ship’s construction progressed rapidly. The first steel for the ORP Jerzy Rozycki was cut in April 2023, and the keel was laid in November of the same year. Following the launch, the vessel will be fitted with a suite of advanced reconnaissance equipment and undergo extensive sea trials before entering active service.

According to the General Staff of the Polish Army, the ship will be equipped with advanced systems for radio-electronic signal recognition, interception, identification, location and analysis of telecommunications and radio signals.

“It will be used to obtain intelligence and reconnaissance data for the Polish Navy, and will also increase Poland’s capabilities in monitoring the situation in the Baltic Sea and supporting NATO and EU allied operations,” the statement added.

Remontowa Shipbuilding President Dariusz Jaguszewski also spoke during the launch event, emphasizing the domestic contribution to the project: “The two ships will become the ears and eyes of our Navy.”

The vessels are the product of a tightly integrated effort. Saab serves as the prime contractor, fully responsible for mission systems integration, while Remontowa Shipbuilding handles physical construction. Polish firm MMC contributed to the design, and several other Polish defense sector companies are also involved.

NATO and Baltic Sea security

The Baltic Sea has drawn increasing NATO attention. In January 2025, NATO launched a dedicated military mission to protect critical underwater infrastructure, including gas pipelines, power cables, and communications links. This mission stemmed from a Polish proposal following multiple acts of sabotage traced to Russian elements in late 2023 and early 2024.

The ORP Jerzy Rozycki will serve as a force multiplier in NATO’s collective security efforts, especially amid increasing cyber and electronic warfare threats from Moscow.

The launch of ORP Jerzy Rozycki marks not just the birth of a new class of maritime surveillance assets for Poland but also a broader strategic shift towards integrated regional defense in the Baltic. With sophisticated SIGINT capabilities, enhanced NATO cooperation, and a watchful eye on the increasingly volatile maritime domain, Poland is reaffirming its role as a frontline state in Europe’s evolving security architecture.