According to a statement issued by the Swedish Ministry of Defence, bilateral negotiations between Warsaw and Stockholm have concluded successfully. Swedish officials emphasized that the acquisition represents a critical milestone in enhancing Poland's naval defense capabilities and deepening strategic security cooperation between the two NATO allies. Deliveries will follow a phased schedule, with final integration expected by 2038.
Custom-Engineered for Baltic Hydrography
Specifically engineered to navigate the demanding conditions of the Baltic Sea—characterized by shallow waters, complex seabed topography, and restricted operational zones—the A26 Blekinge-class submarines offer advanced stealth architecture, high maneuverability, and persistent Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities.
Saab President and CEO Micael Johansson noted that the company is deeply honored by Poland's selection of Saab submarine technology to reinforce its national defense and solidify the strategic partnership between both nations, adding that the A26 platforms will play a decisive role in securing the broader Baltic Sea region.
Interim Capability: Submarine Lease Program
To bridge the operational gap until the new platforms enter service, a dedicated transition framework has been established for the Polish Navy. Under the terms of the agreement, Poland will lease the Swedish Royal Navy's HMS Södermanland until 2032.
As part of the most comprehensive support and training program in Swedish naval history, Polish personnel will begin instruction in August. Furthermore, Polish forces will participate directly in the testing and evaluation phase of Sweden’s own A26 units currently under construction, HMS Blekinge and HMS Skåne.
Regional Deterrence via the "Baltic Pact"
Framed within the bilateral "Baltic Pact" signed by both governments, the procurement program rests on three strategic pillars: security policy, military cooperation, and defense industrial integration.
Highlighting the economic dimension of the agreement, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson emphasized that the partnership will bolster industrial competitiveness and generate thousands of skilled jobs across both countries, while deepening the Baltic maritime alliance to counter regional influence from Russia and strengthen overall NATO deterrence.
Local Industrial Participation and Maintenance Infrastructure
To ensure operational readiness throughout the platforms' lifecycle, Saab will establish localized Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) infrastructure in Poland. Developed in close collaboration with the domestic defense sector, these local facilities aim to reinforce Warsaw's strategic autonomy and sovereign sustainment capacity.
Technical Architecture and Tactical Capabilities
Developed by Saab Kockums, the A26 submarine represents a fifth-generation conventional submarine platform designed specifically for littoral and shallow-water operations through holistic stealth technologies and network-centric warfare integration.
The vessel displaces approximately 1,925 tonnes when surfaced and 2,100 tonnes submerged, measuring 66.1 meters in length with a 6.75-meter beam and a 6-meter draft. Highly automated command-and-control systems allow core operations to be conducted by a crew of 17 to 26 personnel, expandable to 35 when accommodating special forces units. The submarine features a total mission endurance of 45 days, including 18 days of continuous submerged operation under Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) conditions. It achieves a speed of 6 knots in AIP mode and up to 20 knots using diesel-electric propulsion.
Submerged endurance is driven by the fifth-generation Kockums Stirling MkV (V4-275R) AIP system, which burns liquid oxygen and diesel fuel in a closed-loop process, eliminating the need to snorkel for surface air. Complementing this is Saab’s signature GHOST (Genuine HOlistic STealth) architecture, which minimizes acoustic, magnetic, and visual signatures. All internal machinery and generators are mounted on flexible, shock-dampened platforms isolated from the hull, while composite structural materials and active degaussing systems significantly reduce detection risks. An independent X-rudder stern configuration delivers exceptional maneuverability in shallow waters and enables the vessel to rest directly on the seabed.
For specialized missions, a 1.5-meter diameter Multi-Mission Portal positioned between the bow torpedo tubes enables the covert deployment and recovery of Special Operations Forces, Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs), and Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs). This modular interface allows the platform to execute seabed mapping, undersea infrastructure protection, and specialized seabed warfare operations.
The primary offensive armament consists of four 533 mm (21-inch) and two 400 mm (16-inch) torpedo tubes. The larger tubes deploy Torped 62 heavyweight torpedoes and naval mines, while the 400 mm tubes are configured for the Torped 47 (Saab SLWT) lightweight anti-submarine torpedo system. Optional modular Vertical Launching System (VLS) cells can be integrated into the hull to carry up to 18 land-attack cruise missiles. Sensor architecture features Safran Series 30 SOM optronic periscope masts together with Atlas Elektronik hull-mounted and flank-array sonars, all orchestrated through Saab's Autonomous Ocean Core software suite for unified command and control over organic and uncrewed systems.