Hanwha Ocean, a subsidiary of Hanwha Group, was exhibiting during MSPO 2023 in Kielce a model of the KSS-III (Dosan Ahn Chang-ho or Jang Bogo III class) submarine as a proposal for the Orka program in its most recent Batch II configuration.
On May 24, the Polish Ministry of National Defense announced the Orka program for the acquisition of new submarines by the Polish Navy. There has been no announcement regarding the size of the fleet.
In the RFI (Request for Information) for the future Orka submarine, an autonomy of at least 30 days, operation depths of over 200 meters, the use of AIP (Air Independent Propulsion), and the capability of attacking surface, underwater, land, and air targets with torpedoes and missiles, as well as operating ROVs and AUVs, were specified.
Eleven companies responded to the RFI with proposals: Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. Ltd., Saab Technologies Poland Sp. z o.o., Navantia, Naval Group, ThyssenKrupp AG, Hanwha Ocean Co. Ltd., Fincantieri S.p.A., Aycomm Sp. z o.o., Volue Industrial IoT, Babcock International Group plc, and JFD.
The Polish government has already awarded Hanwha Aerospace contracts worth a combined 1 billion PLN for K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzers and K239 Chunmoo self-propelled multiple launch rocket system (MLRS).