Mariusz Błaszczak delivered the news via Twitter on Thursday, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
Błaszczak, who is also a deputy prime minister, tweeted: “Another mine destroyer of the 258 Kormoran (Cormorant) II type, dubbed Mewa (Seagull), has been supplied to the Polish Navy.”
He added: “Destroyers are designed to locate and detonate naval mines. They can also provide mine protection to other vessels and take part in rescue operations.”
The Seagull is the third mine destroyer of its type to be supplied to the Polish navy, after a Cormorant II in 2017 an an Albatross last month, according to the PAP news agency.
Meanwhile, in June the government signed a contract with a consortium of three domestic companies for the construction of three more mine destroyers, officials told reporters.
Mine destroyers
The mine destroyers are part of Poland’s 13th Minesweeping Flotilla, stationed in the northern port of Gdynia, PAP reported.
With a displacement of 850 tonnes, minimum range of 2,500 nautical miles and maximum speed of over 15 knots, the 58-metre-long warships are intended to locate and neutralise naval mines, including through underwater drones, officials said.
They are also designed to offer anti-mine protection to other vessels in Polish waters and as part of tactical groups in the Baltic and North Seas, among other tasks.
These mine destroyers can also plant their own mines, the PAP news agency reported.
Polish Army gets two new Pilica air defence batteries
Also on Thursday, Błaszczak announced in a tweet that the Polish Army had received another two batteries of the Pilica Very Short-Range Air Defence System.
"We are systematically strengthening the Polish Army," Błaszczak wrote.
The Pilica system, designed to strike drones, helicopters, aircraft and cruise missiles up to 5 kilometres away, is used to protect airports, among other facilities, reporters were told.
In July, officials said Pilica would be additionally equipped with UK-made CAMM surface-to-air missiles, the PAP news agency reported.
Thursday’s announcements came as Russia’s war in Ukraine neared its 11th month.
(pm/gs)
Source: PAP, defence24.pl
