The launch of Poland’s first signals intelligence (SIGINT) ship under contract with prime contractor Saab, ORP Jerzy Różycki, took place in Gdańsk, Poland, on 1 July 2025.
The launching ceremony was attended by representatives from the Polish Ministry of National Defence, the Polish Armaments Agency, the Polish Headquarters of Marine Technology, the Polish Navy, and the chief of Poland’s Reconnaissance and Intelligence Analysis Directorate (J2).
ORP Jerzy Różycki is the first of two SIGINT ships to be acquired under Poland’s ‘Delfin’ programme, for which Saab is the prime contractor while Remontowa Shipbuilding is subcontracted to construct the ships, with Polish company MMC supporting Saab with design work.
The launch of the first SIGINT vessel is a significant milestone in its construction process, following first steel for the ship being cut in April 2023 and its keel being laid that November. Before entering service, the ship will be equipped with the necessary reconnaissance systems and will undergo sea trials.
Mission systems on board ORP Jerzy Różycki will enable the acquisition of intelligence data across the entire spectrum of maritime electronic intelligence (ELINT).
“Today marks a significant milestone with the launch of ORP Jerzy Różycki as a testament to the power of co-operation and shared vision,” Saab President and CEO Micael Johansson was quoted as saying in a Saab press release. “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.”
The first ship in the ‘Delfin’ programme series was named ORP Jerzy Różycki to honour the mathematician, Cipher Bureau employee and cryptologist who, prior to the outbreak of the Second World War, worked with Marian Rejewski and Henryk Zygalski to break the code of the German Enigma encryption machine.
