The Naval Shipyard SMW (Stocznia Marynarki Wojennej) and Thales Nederland B.V. have signed the contract for the modernisation of the three ORKAN class Corvettes with the Polish Navy (Marynarki Wojennej RP) and Thales Nederland's Swedish sub-contractors, Ericsson Microwave System AB and SAAB Bofors Dynamics AB on 31 July, 2001. The ship's communications system will be delivered by Thales Naval GmbH, subsidiary of Thales Nederland B.V. in Germany.
The contract covers the delivery and integration of the combat systems on-board the Polish Navy's three existing ORKAN class Corvettes.
Thales Nederland, acting through Thales Naval Nederland (TNNL), is world-renowned for its state-of-the-art, fully distributed modular combat systems built around the company's Combat Management System (TACTICOS), using Multi-function Operator Consoles (MOC Mk3) and its own application software. The main characteristic of these systems is the full integration of both the various sensors - including those not supplied by Thales - and a wide range of hard- and soft-kill weapons into an integrated system. STING-EO is included as fire control system and integration of the existing guns is part of the overall project. Besides the combat systems on-board the ORKAN ships, a Land based Integration and Programming System is included in the contract.
TNNL shall involve Polish industry in high technology areas of the programme such as interface development and subsystem production. Full transfer of technology to Polish industry will take place progressively during the programme for the Combat System Integration (CSI) activities.

The Gdynia based Naval Shipyard SMW is supervised by the Polish Ministry of National Defence and is the oldest shipyard in Poland, having served the Polish Navy for 80 years.

TNNL's Commercial Director, Mr. Rob van der Wurff, has expressed his pleasure with the company's first contract in Poland in the naval domain. It is of great significance, especially as Poland is one of the new NATO members. TNNL is honoured to assist this new member to create an up-to-date and NATO-compatible fleet.