폴란드의 잠수함 도입 프로그램에 도전장을 던진 밥콕과 한화 오션

[위종민]

현재 킬로급 1척을 운영중인 폴란드는 최대 4척의 재래식 잠수함을 도입하는 오르카 프로그램을 2014년부터 진행중이고, 이미 스웨덴의 A36 블레킹에급, 독일의 212CD, 프랑스의 스콜펜급등이 후보로 거론되고 있는데 영국의 밥콕과 한국의 한화오션이 도전장을 던졌네요. 

밥콕은 현재 생산중인 재래식잠수함은 없지만 영국해군의 핵잠수함들의 무장 시스템 및 생애주기 설계변경 등의 지원을 하고 있을 뿐만 아니라 캐나다, 호주, 스페인, 한국 해군에도 지원을 제공하고 있고 이미 폴란드 해군의 미에츠닉급 호위함 프로그램 관련으로 폴란드에 사업기반을 갖추고 있습니다. 잠수함 안에 들어가는 무장 시스템을 판촉할 모양이네요. 

한화는 8월 2일 보도자료에서 폴란드 업체에 잠수함 정비, 수리 및 창정비 관련 기술 이전 종합계획을 포함한 KSS-III를 폴란드의 MSPO에서 공개할 예정이라고 합니다. 

서해는 발트해보다 수심이 더 얕아 천수심인 발트해에서 운영하기 적합하다는 점을 강조하네요. 

Naval primes positioning for Poland’s Orka submarine programme - Naval Technology (naval-technology.com)

Naval primes positioning for Poland’s Orka submarine programme

The UK’s Babcock and South Korea’s Hanwha are both eyeing submarine sustainment requirements, with the value of such programmes often significantly greater than platform acquisition.

Richard ThomasSeptember 3, 2024

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Poland operates a single Russian-origin Kilo-class submarine, but is seeking to acquire four new boats. Credit: Mariusz Szczygiel via Shutterstock

Leading companies in the global naval industry are ramping up positioning efforts for Poland’s Orka submarine programme, which will introduce a new class of up to four diesel-electric, conventionally powered submarines (SSK) for the Polish Navy.

The Orka programme, first launched in 2014, was reconfigured in May 2023 as new requirements were outlined for industry, which had already put forward platforms such as Sweden’s A26 Blekinge class, the German Type 212CD, and the French Scorpene SSK.

Poland currently operates a single 1980s-era Russian-origin Kilo-class SSK, and is seeking to modernise its subsurface capabilities amid a widespread European rearmament initiative as the Russia-Ukraine war continues to rage.  

In a 3 September 2024 release, timed to coincide with the MSPO defence exhibition and conference in Poland, UK defence prime Babcock stated that was “gearing up” to “play its part” in Poland’s Orka programme, with the company citing its expertise in naval submarine sustainment and integration for navies around the world.

Babcock to leverage naval sustainment expertise

Babcock provides through life maintenance support to the UK Royal Navy’s nuclear submarine fleet, to include undertaking through-life design changes, as well as specialising in weapon handling and launch systems for both ships and submarines, the company said.

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Babcock’s Royal Naval Dockyard at Devonport Naval Base in the UK sustains the UK’s nuclear submarine fleets, as well as much of its surface combatant force. Credit: Shutterstock/Andystock

Regarding Poland’s Orka programme, Babcock said that its position as the single support provider for the UK nuclear submarine fleet and the Canadian conventional diesel electric submarine fleet, as well as the navies of Australia, Spain, and the Republic of Korea, demonstrated its expertise in the sector.

The company is also working in Poland to deliver the Miecznik-frigates programme, a class of warships based on the Arrowhead 140 design selected for the UK’s Type 31 programme, which Babcock is leading.

“Through our existing presence and relationships in Poland, we understand the importance of the Orka programme in terms of Poland’s national defence, security, industrial, commercial, and social value priorities,” Babcock said.

Examples of submarine capabilities that Babcock could offer to the prospective Orka submarines include weapon handling and launch systems, in addition to payload integration and fleet sustainment.

Orka another opportunity for South Korea in Poland?

Following the reconfiguration of the Orka programme last year, industry have sought to refine their offerings to Poland, with the acquisition of new submarines of strategic importance for the country, which shares land and maritime borders with Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave.

In addition to the usual suppliers in Europe, South Korea has been busy carving itself significant market share in Poland, one of the continent’s busiest, with Hanwha securing programme wins for the provision of main battle tanks, artillery, and multiple launch rocket systems to the Polish armed forces.

Hanwha has gone in heavily with its KSS-III submarine at the ongoing MSPO defence exhibition in Poland. Credit: MSPO

At the 2024 edition of the MSPO exhibition, Hanwha has returned to Poland to showcase the KSS-III submarine for the Orka programme, in addition to offering “comprehensive plans” to transfer technology related to submarine maintenance, and repair and overhaul operations to Polish industry, the company stated in a 2 August release.

Designed and built by Hanwha Ocean, the KSS-III is the latest SSK submarine operated by the South Korean Navy and is armed with six tubes for wire-guided torpedoes, anti-ship missiles, cruise missiles, and mobile mines.

The KSS III submarine Dosan Ahn Chang-ho at sea with the Republic of Korea Navy. Credit: South Korea OGL/ROK Ministry of National Defense

In addition, the Hanwha Ocean built class features hull-mounted vertical launchers for conventional Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBM). Hanwha stated the KSS-III uses an Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) system and lithium-ion batteries, meaning the class can stay submerged for more than 21 days before needing to surface.

The KSS-III had “proven its effectiveness in… shallow waters of the West/Yellow Sea” in the Asia-Pacific, Hanwha said, of an area of water that is shallower than depths available in the Baltic Sea.

[김민석]

KSS-III의 무장체계 중 수평발사체계(어뢰발사관)을 밥콕제를 사용하고 있습니다.

[위종민]

한화오션과 협업을 하거나 하는 것일 수도 있겠습니다.