Author: Rafał Lipka & Sebastian Czub

Pulaski Policy Paper, 15 April 2025

As Poland grapples with the strategic implications of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, its maritime sector has emerged as a vital pillar of national security and economic resilience. The Baltic Sea now plays a central role in Poland’s trade with non-EU partners, particularly in the context of energy and defense imports. This analysis underscores how the maritime industry—far more than an economic asset—is becoming a critical enabler of Poland’s long-term strategic autonomy. Central to this transformation is the country’s shipbuilding sector, which must evolve beyond its post-Soviet legacy to embrace cutting-edge naval technologies through initiatives such as the ORKA submarine program.

The ORKA program, along with other technical modernization efforts, should not be viewed merely as an initiative to acquire modern submarines for the Polish Navy. It also represents a unique opportunity to revitalize Poland’s industrial base. This paper—the concluding entry in a series of analyses examining the ORKA program—shifts focus from hardware specifications and strategic imperatives to the institutional and technological implications for domestic shipbuilding. By emphasizing technology transfers, lifecycle maintenance, and the development of advanced design and manufacturing capabilities, the program could serve as a catalyst for modernizing Poland’s shipyards. This approach—driven by technology spillover—could unlock new potential across both military and civilian maritime sectors, particularly when tied to a strategic partnership with an experienced international partner. The framework proposed in this paper challenges the conventional development trajectory followed by most maritime nations, which typically prioritize merchant shipbuilding and subsequently leverage this experience to establish military shipbuilding capabilities.

Drawing on global best practices, this analysis explores how Poland can leverage submarine construction—often regarded as the apex of shipbuilding expertise—to cultivate an innovation-driven maritime industry. The paper argues that a well-executed collaboration within the ORKA framework can deliver long-term economic dividends, enable the domestic production of sophisticated vessels, and improve national resilience through enhanced industrial self-reliance. By focusing on the transfer of both technical know-how and advanced management systems, this paper makes the case for why the ORKA program is not just a defense procurement project, but a unique opportunity to reshape Poland’s maritime future.

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