Gdańsk Tech cooperates with the Ministry of National Defense as part of the offset for the Polish Navy | Gdańsk University of Technology

On Tuesday, 17 August 2021, Gdańsk University of Technology was visited by Col. Robert Frommholz, director of the Offset Agreements Office of the Ministry of National Defense and Col. Michał Hresiukiewicz, legal advisor of the OAO MND. During their stay at Gdańsk Tech they met with the university authorities, management of the Naval Military Technology Center, and representatives of the Faculty of Electronics, Telecommunications and Informatics of Gdańsk University of Technology.

The visit concerned the implementation of the obligations of the Center of Maritime Military Technologies at Gdańsk University of Technology as one of the two beneficiaries of the offset related to the purchase by the Ministry of National Defense of the Republic of Poland of four anti-submarine (AS) and combat rescue (CSAR) AW 101 Merlin helicopters. An agreement on this matter was signed by the Gdańsk Tech and CMMT authorities with the Ministry of National Defense in January 2020 (more information).

The delegation of the Ministry of National Defense at Gdańsk University of Technology was welcomed by Marek Dzida, professor at Gdańsk Tech, Vice-Rector for Education. The Gdańsk Tech CMMT was represented by the director of the center, Eng. Andrzej Ogonowski, MSc, Eng. Iwona Małecka (deputy director) and MSc Paweł Zariczny. The meeting was attended by representatives of the Faculty of Electronics, Telecommunications and Informatics of Gdańsk Tech: MSc, Eng. Zenon Filipiak (the Faculty administrative director) and representatives of the Hydroacoustics Department of the Gdańsk Tech CMMT (the direct beneficiary of the offset): Jacek Marszal, professor at Gdańsk Tech (head of the Department of Sonar Systems and head of HD of the Gdańsk Tech CMMT), MSc. Mariusz Rudnicki and PhD, Eng. Zawisza Ostrowski.

In the first part of the visit Gdańsk Tech representatives talked with members of the delegation about the current and ongoing research projects of scientists from Gdańsk University of Technology in the field of national defense, whose positive end results were appreciated by foreign partners and resulted in obtaining the above-mentioned offset. Then, the delegation of the Ministry of National Defense, accompanied by the meeting organizers, proceeded to visit the building that is to be adapted to the needs of the project implementation.

Col. Robert Frommholz, the head of the MND delegation, highly appreciated the activities of the Gdańsk Tech CMMT related to the creation of the sonar handling capacity of AS AW 101 helicopters as part of the offset. Having studied the progress of works, including those related to the adaptation of the necessary construction infrastructure, he expressed the conviction that despite the difficulties posed by the COVID-19 situation, the technical facilities supporting the maintenance of newly acquired helicopters in technical efficiency, will be built at the Gdańsk Tech CMMT in accordance with the assumed schedule.

In turn, prof. Jacek Marszal, emphasized that thanks to the offset obtained, HD CMMT will acquire the skills of training operators and servicing sonar systems by THALES DMS, installed on helicopters of the Polish Navy.

–We hope that the Gdańsk Tech CMMT will also take part in other projects in the field of defense, related with the construction of Miecznik frigates, as well as the acquisition of multi-purpose on-board MW helicopters, said Andrzej Ogonowski, director of the Gdańsk Tech CMMT.

The visit was summed up in the Conference Room of the ETI Faculty and ended with a common photo in front of its building.