Key Points and Summary – Poland’s lone submarine, the Kilo-class ORP Orzel, is an aging Soviet “black hole” boat that remains one of NATO’s quietest and most intriguing assets.
-Delivered in 1986, Orzel was built to stalk NATO convoys in the Baltic but now serves a very different role: deterrent, trainer, and live reference model for Russian undersea technology.
Kilo-Class Submarine. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
Kilo-Class Submarine. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
-Despite a troubled decade-long overhaul and dated combat systems, the diesel-electric sub still offers credible sea-denial in confined waters.
-Just as important, it lets NATO study classic Kilo acoustics, sensors, and tactics while Poland preserves its hard-won cadre of submariners for future fleets.
This Aging Polish Kilo-Class Sub Summed Up in 3 Words: Still Quiet, Deadly
The Polish Navy currently operates one submarine: the ORP Orzel, a Soviet-made Kilo-class boat. What’s so special about this submarine? Some experts call it the black hole thanks to how how quiet it is underwater.
The Orzel is currently the oldest operational Kilo-class sub in existence, but despite its age, Poland remains committed to modernizing the submarine and keeping it in service until a replacement is found. Despite its relative obsolescence, the ORP Orzel is the closest thing NATO has to an active Soviet/Russian submarine.
How Poland Ended Up in Polish Service
ORP Orzeł came to be as part of Project 877 “Paltus,” which is the oldest variant of the Kilo-class. Designed for anti-ship and anti-submarine warfare in littoral zones, the Kilo-class became known for its stealth, especially its low acoustic signature.
The submarine displaces roughly 2,460 tons on the surface and 3,180 tons submerged, measures 72.6 meters in length, and can dive to depths of around 240 meters. It is powered by a diesel-electric propulsion system that allows it to reach speeds of 12 knots on the surface and 17 knots underwater.
Its armament includes six-533 mm torpedo tubes capable of deploying wire-guided and wake-homing torpedoes, as well as naval mines.
The crew consists of about 60 sailors, and the onboard sensors include the MGK-400E Rubikon sonar suite and MRK-50E radar.
At that time it received the submarine, Poland was a Warsaw Pact member under Soviet influence. The Polish Navy operated aging Whiskey-class submarines built in the 1950s, and these were obsolete by the late 1970s.
Kilo-Class Submarine. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
Kilo-Class Submarine. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
Warsaw Pact planners decided to modernize Poland’s submarine fleet. The Soviet Union offered Poland the Project 877E, an export variant of the Kilo-class tailored for allied navies. This was a significant upgrade over the Whiskey-class: quieter, more capable, and designed for Baltic operations.
ORP Orzeł was laid down at the Krasnoye Sormovo shipyard in Gorky (now Nizhny Novgorod) in 1984, launched in 1985, and commissioned on April 29, 1986, in Riga.
It was formally transferred to Poland in June 1986 and assigned to the 3rd Flotilla in Gdynia. Interestingly, Poland originally planned to acquire three additional Kilo-class submarines, but financial constraints and shifting priorities meant only one was delivered.
Instead, Poland received two older Project 641 boats as a stopgap measure.
A Soviet Submarine in NATO Service
During the late Cold War, ORP Orzeł’s mission was to patrol the Baltic, monitor NATO naval movements, and, if necessary, interdict Western shipping. However, the collapse of the Soviet Union and Poland’s transition to democracy in the 1990s radically altered its strategic environment.
When Poland joined NATO in 1999, its submarine force was already in decline. By then, Orzeł was accompanied only by two Foxtrot-class boats, which were soon retired. To maintain minimal underwater capability, Poland acquired four ex-Norwegian Kobben-class submarines between 2002 and 2004.
These were primarily intended for training, not frontline combat. By 2021, all Kobben-class units were decommissioned, leaving Orzeł as the sole standardbearer of Poland’s undersea ambitions.
Why Poland Keeps its Lone Kilo-class
Why does Poland cling to a single aging submarine? Despite its age, the Kilo-class provides effective deterrence: Even an old Kilo-class poses a threat to surface ships in confined waters. Its stealth makes it a valuable asset for sea denial strategies.
It also has value as a trainer ship for future submarines, and maintaining a submarine force—even a small one—preserves institutional knowledge. Without Orzeł, Poland would lose its cadre of submariners, complicating future acquisitions.
Despite its age, ORP Orzeł never underwent a full NATO-standard modernization. While some upgrades were made in the early 2000s to improve interoperability, its core combat systems remain largely unchanged.
This limits its ability to deploy modern torpedoes or cruise missiles, making it less ideal for high-intensity conflict. From 2014-2024, it underwent an intensive overhaul that was plagued by delays, accidents, and even a fire in 2017.
Initially intended as a routine battery replacement, the refit ballooned into a decade-long endeavor involving hull repairs and system refurbishments. At one point, the submarine could not safely submerge, raising doubts about its future. Finally, in March 2024, the Polish Navy announced that Orzeł had successfully completed underwater trials and returned to operational status.
The Closest NATO Has to an Operational Russian Submarine
The ORP Orzel also allows NATO to get a glimpse into Soviet/Russian submarine manufacturing. While the ship has received some modernizations, many of its original systems have remained unchanged.
This allows NATO to study the ship’s stealth and sonar systems and develop strategies to counter Russian subs.
Currently, Russia operates five Project 877 Kilo-class submarines, which are divided between the Northern Fleet and the Black Sea Fleet. The majority of Russia’s Kilo-class fleet comprises newer Project 636.3 “Improved Kilo IIs.”
These newer variants possess better sonar and radar suites and a slightly increased hull length. Though they are heavily upgraded, they share nearly identical hull designs. By studying the ORP Orzel, NATO can gain a better understanding of Russian submarine tactics and manufacturing.
About the Author: Isaac Seitz
Isaac Seitz, a Defense Columnist, graduated from Patrick Henry College’s Strategic Intelligence and National Security program. He has also studied Russian at Middlebury Language Schools and has worked as an intelligence Analyst in the private sector.
More Military
The U.S. Military Purchased 2 Russian-Made Mach 2.35 Su-27 Flanker Fighters
The B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber Has a Message for the U.S. Air Force
To The Bottom In Minutes: China Has Countless Missiles Ready to Sink U.S. Navy Aircraft Carriers
