EU countries plan to purchase new submarines and boats to deter Russia

Poland, Lithuania and Latvia are considering the possibility of purchasing new submarines and combat boats to strengthen the deterrence of Russian ships in the Baltic Sea.

This is reported by DefenceNews.

Poland plans to order three or four new submarines under the Orka (“Killer Whale”) program by the end of 2025, as the fleet currently relies on a single outdated Soviet-built submarine – ORP Orzeł. Currently, the highest ratings are offered by offers from Germany, Sweden and Italy.

Latvia and Lithuania have joined forces to purchase multipurpose attack boats from the Finnish shipbuilder Marine Alutech. Under the CFMAC (Common Future Multipurpose Attack Craft) program, this shipyard will develop and deliver combat boats based on the Watercat M18 project.

Lithuania will receive two such boats for its coastal defense battalion as early as 2026.

These boats will be equipped with advanced combat systems, including Israeli Spike NLOS missile launchers and remotely controlled combat modules with large-caliber machine guns, which will allow them to effectively hit both sea and land targets at long distances.

The boats are specially designed for operations in shallow waters, for example, in the Curonian Spit, which will provide Lithuania with the ability to quickly respond to various threats.

It should be noted that the announcement of the plans to purchase the vessels comes against the backdrop of Russia’s naval exercises in the Baltic Sea, which involved more than 20 ships, about 25 aircraft and helicopters, and about three thousand military personnel.

As previously reported by USM, in early June, NATO defense ministers agreed to strengthen the security of the Baltic Sea. They signed a document that provides for closer cooperation between NATO and the EU, information exchange, and measures to deter threats in the region.