FILE PHOTO: Poland's Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak speaks in front of the HIMARS system during an event marking the delivery of the first HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) to the Polish Army at the airport in Warsaw, Poland May 15, 2023.  REUTERS/Kacper Pempel
Poland

Poland to launch submarine purchase programme in 2023

WARSAW (Reuters) - Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said on Wednesday that Poland plans to launch a submarine purchase programme in 2023.

Poland has increased military spending since Russia's invasion of neighbouring Ukraine in February last year, with the government pledging to double the size of the army and spend 4% of GDP on defence in 2023.

"We are starting the implementation of the 'Orka' program. This year, we plan to launch a procedure aimed at purchasing submarines along with the transfer of the necessary technologies," the minister said at the Defence24Day conference.

Blaszczak said the tender would be "launched soon", adding information on the number of submarines and their equipment will be provided by the Ministry of Defence shortly.

(Reporting by Karol Badohal and Pawel Florkiewicz, Editing by Louise Heavens)

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