Lankan Ranger
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Poland faces up to ageing submarine fleet
Polish Navy is examining the long-term sustainment of its submarine force as its ageing Type 207 Kobben-class boats enter their twilight years.
Following the return of ORP Bielik in February 2011 from operations in the Mediterranean, all four submarines - transferred from Norway a decade ago as a stopgap - are confined to training, patrol and continuation operations in the Baltic.
Originally planned to decommission by 2012, their service lines are being extended to 2016 (each boat is already more than 40 years old). The navy's only other submarine - the Soviet-built Project 877E boat ORP Orzel recently completed a major refit and is to stay in service until 2022.
Bielik returned to Gdynia-Oksywie naval base on 25 February after a four-month deployment to the Mediterranean in support of NATO's Operation 'Active Endeavour'.
This was its fourth and final mission outside the Baltic. Sister boat ORP Kondor has also been deployed to the Mediterranean, but Bielik has been the submarine of choice for 'out-of-area' missions as it has an upgraded air-conditioning system and additional surveillance equipment.
The Polish Armed Forces Modernisation Plan for 2009-2018 has set out plans for the navy to introduce a conventional patrol submarine with air-independent propulsion (AIP). Initial studies began in 2008, and a formal acquisition programme is expected to start later in 2011.
http://www..com/products//defence-security-report.aspx?ID=1065929442&channel=defence
Polish Navy is examining the long-term sustainment of its submarine force as its ageing Type 207 Kobben-class boats enter their twilight years.
Following the return of ORP Bielik in February 2011 from operations in the Mediterranean, all four submarines - transferred from Norway a decade ago as a stopgap - are confined to training, patrol and continuation operations in the Baltic.
Originally planned to decommission by 2012, their service lines are being extended to 2016 (each boat is already more than 40 years old). The navy's only other submarine - the Soviet-built Project 877E boat ORP Orzel recently completed a major refit and is to stay in service until 2022.
Bielik returned to Gdynia-Oksywie naval base on 25 February after a four-month deployment to the Mediterranean in support of NATO's Operation 'Active Endeavour'.
This was its fourth and final mission outside the Baltic. Sister boat ORP Kondor has also been deployed to the Mediterranean, but Bielik has been the submarine of choice for 'out-of-area' missions as it has an upgraded air-conditioning system and additional surveillance equipment.
The Polish Armed Forces Modernisation Plan for 2009-2018 has set out plans for the navy to introduce a conventional patrol submarine with air-independent propulsion (AIP). Initial studies began in 2008, and a formal acquisition programme is expected to start later in 2011.
http://www..com/products//defence-security-report.aspx?ID=1065929442&channel=defence
