: Poland has laid the keel for the first of two new 2,035-ton corvettes. These are modified Meko-100s, and the Germans (HDW and B&V) are sub-contractors on the project. The first ship will be put into service in 2003 and the second in 2005. The Poles want to order five more for delivery through 2012. Each ship is to be fitted with:

@ a 76mm gun, probably the OTO Melara 76/62 MMI.

@ eight anti-ship missiles, probably Swedish RBS-15s.

@ eight surface-to-air missiles, probably Evolved Sea Sparrow.

@ six 324mm torpedo tubes (probably European MU90s).

@ one helicopter in the 10-ton class.--Stephen V Cole