Orkan Class Fast Attack Craft, Poland

Key Data

The Orkan Class (Nato code name: Sassnitz Class) fast attack craft are in service with the Polish Navy. They were originally intended for the German Democratic Republic.

Three unfinished Orkan Class boats were acquired by the Polish Navy from VEB Peenewerft shipyard after German reunification. The ships were completed by the Northern Shipyard in Gdańsk.

The first ship in class, ORP Orkan (421), was commissioned into the Polish Navy in September 1992.

The second and third ships, ORP Piorun (422) and ORP Grom (423), were commissioned in March 1994 and April 1995 respectively.

The fast attack craft are operated by the 3rd Ship Flotilla, based at Gdynia-Oksywie Naval Base.

The Polish Navy launched a competition for the upgradation of the Orkan Class combat system in 1999. Naval Shipyard Gdynia and Thales Nederland signed a €76m contract for the modernisation of the three Polish Navy vessels in July 2001. Thales integrated a combat system consisting of sensors, electronic warfare and gun systems under the contract.

Thales delivered the communications systems, while warfare, command and control software applications for the combat management system were provided by EDISOFT. Other subcontractors involved were Ericsson Microwave System and SAAB Bofors Dynamics.

Orkan Class features

"The Orkan Class fast attack craft are in service with the Polish Navy."

Orkan Class has an overall length of 48.9m, a beam of 8.65m and a draft of 2.15m. The full load displacement of the ship is 369t. Each ship can complement a crew of 34 people.

The upgraded Orkan Class vessels comply with Nato standards and feature anti-surface warfare (ASUW), anti-air warfare (AAW) and naval gunfire support (NGS) capabilities.

Command and control systems onboard the fast attack craft

The combat management system of the ship is the Thales TACTICOS. The system provides situational awareness by using multifunction operator consoles and its own application software.

It integrates various shipboard sensors as well as hard and soft-kill weapons. TACTICOS conducts threat evaluation and prioritisation, mission planning, weapon system allocation and kill assessment. Orkan Class is also equipped with the STING-EO fire control system.

Orkan Class missiles

Saab Bofors Dynamics received a €110m contract in October 2006 from MESKO and BUMAR to supply RBS15 Mk3 surface-to-surface missile (SSM) systems. The contract was placed on behalf of the Polish Ministry of Defence.

The missile was jointly manufactured and marketed by Diehl BGT Defence and Saab.

The new generation RBS15 Mk3 missiles replaced the Mk2 missiles previously fitted on the three ships. The RBS15 Mk3 is equipped with advanced target seeker with all weather capability. It can engage sea and land-based targets within a range exceeding 200km. The missile successfully demonstrated its ability of engaging land targets in April 2008.

Naval guns on the Polish Navy ships

The main gun fitted forward is a 76.2mm AK-176 naval gun.

"Three unfinished Orkan Class boats were acquired by the Polish Navy."

It can fire at a rate of 120 rounds a minute to a maximum range of 15.5km. It can engage sea, coastal and aerial targets such as low flying anti-ship missiles.

Close-point defence is provided by a 30mm AK-630 CIWS (close-in weapon system). The CIWS has a rate of fire of 5,000 rounds a minute and a maximum range of 4,000m.

It can defend incoming anti-ship missiles and precision guided weapons.

AK-630 can also be employed against coastal targets, floating mines and fixed and rotary wing aircraft.

Sensors / radars

The surface search radar of the ship is the N-27 radar. The Sea Giraffe 3D early warning radar onboard can detect the low cross-section aerial targets flying at low altitudes. The Orkan Class is also equipped with a CRM-200 navigational radar.

Propulsion and engines

The Orkan Class fast attack craft are powered by three M520 diesel engines driving three propellers. Each engine can deliver a power output of 3,970kW. The propulsion system provides a maximum speed of 36kt and a range of 1,620nmi.

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The Orkan Class fast attack craft are in service with the Polish Navy.

Three unfinished Orkan Class boats were acquired by the Polish Navy from VEB Peenewerft shipyard after German reunification.

Thales delivered the communications systems, while warfare, command and control software applications for the combat management system were provided by EDISOFT.