Discover how Saab's A26 fifth-generation submarine boosts Sweden’s strength beneath waters.

Saab shares new details about the A26 submarine, which combines Saab’s experience in acoustic management and Baltic Sea operations with new systems supporting data integration, AI-assisted situational awareness, and information warfare.

On November 7, 2025, Saab shared new information about its A26 Blekinge-class submarine, describing it as the world’s first fifth-generation conventional submarine designed to meet NATO’s Multi-Domain Operations (MDO) requirements, as part of Sweden’s plan to modernize its submarine fleet and maintain a domestic underwater industrial base. Developed for the Swedish Navy, this submarine integrates stealth, seabed warfare, long-range precision strike, and advanced intelligence-gathering features under a modular and upgradable architecture.
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Developed for operations in the Baltic Sea, a region characterized by shallow waters and complex acoustic conditions, the A26 features specialized coatings to reduce target echo strength without affecting hydrodynamic performance, while its adaptive degaussing system minimizes magnetic emissions. (Picture source: Saab)

The A26’s defining aspect is its multi-domain signature management, achieved through acoustic, magnetic, radar, electric, infrared, and visual suppression techniques. Its hull geometry and external coatings reduce target echo strength without compromising hydrodynamic efficiency, while an adaptive degaussing system minimizes magnetic emissions. Static and dynamic electric signatures are managed through advanced corrosion control and automated field regulation. Saab’s patented Stirling air-independent propulsion (AIP) system allows the A26 to operate submerged for several weeks without surfacing, extending mission endurance and maintaining concealment. The system uses stored liquid oxygen and diesel fuel to generate power through external combustion in a sealed cycle, producing minimal vibration or noise. Compared to other AIP technologies such as fuel cells, the Stirling engine is more cost-efficient, easier to maintain, and compatible with modular retrofitting.

The submarine’s seabed warfare capabilities include deployment of unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs), swimmer delivery vehicles (SDVs), and special operations personnel through its Multi-Mission Portal, a system integrated into the forward hull. This portal enables the launching and recovery of diverse payloads and personnel at significant depths. Saab’s design allows the A26 to rest directly on the seabed, enhancing concealment and operational flexibility. This “bottoming” capability is made possible by a strong, pressure-resistant hull free from external tanks and an X-rudder arrangement that provides increased maneuverability in confined or shallow environments. The A26’s seabed warfare role supports protection of underwater cables, surveillance of maritime chokepoints, and control of critical sea lines of communication. The submarine’s configuration forms part of Saab’s broader “system-of-systems” approach, integrating the A26 with other underwater and surface assets for layered situational awareness.

In its role within NATO’s Multi-Domain Operations framework, the A26 is equipped with electronic surveillance and communication systems capable of gathering, classifying, and transmitting data to allied command networks. The submarine’s electronic support (ES) capabilities enable passive signal interception and classification to enhance understanding of adversary communications, radar emissions, and movements. Saab indicates that its onboard AI-assisted data processing allows faster synchronization with air, land, cyber, and space assets in joint operations. These systems contribute to what the Swedish Navy refers to as “underwater information warfare,” which includes both exploitation of enemy communication links and protection of national undersea infrastructure. The A26’s 9LV Combat Management System (CMS) provides C4I coordination across naval platforms and mission types, linking sonar, navigation, and weapons data for efficient decision-making.

The A26 Blekinge-class will displace approximately 1,925 tonnes surfaced and 2,100 tonnes submerged, with a length of 66.1 meters, a beam of 6.75 meters, and a draught of 6 meters. Propulsion consists of two diesel-electric engines and four Kockums MkV V4-275R Stirling AIP units, providing a single-shaft propeller drive. The submarine’s submerged endurance is up to 45 days, including around 18 days operating solely on AIP, and its top submerged speed reaches roughly 20 kilometers per hour. The standard crew complement ranges from 17 to 26, expandable to 35 with embarked special operations forces. Armament includes four 533 mm torpedo tubes capable of firing heavyweight Torped 62 or Torped 63, and two 400 mm tubes for the lightweight Torped 47, also known as the Saab Lightweight Torpedo (SLWT). The modular payload system supports integration of cruise missiles or seabed-deployed munitions, depending on customer requirements. The A26’s hull is reinforced for shock resistance, allowing operations in heavily mined environments such as the Baltic Sea.

The sonar suite integrates Atlas Elektronik bow and flank arrays, HF intercept sonar arrays, Kongsberg SA9510S mine avoidance sonar, and Safran Series 30 optronic masts for periscope and surface observation. Saab’s modular design allows mid-life upgrades and technology insertions without structural modifications. The Stirling AIP is derived from systems first used on the Gotland class and HMS Näcken, providing quiet propulsion without air access. Saab emphasizes reduced maintenance intervals and extended service cycles due to its modular architecture and use of standardized replaceable units. The submarine’s endurance and logistical independence make it adaptable to both coastal and blue-water operations, optimized for diverse salinity, pressure, and temperature conditions. The 9LV CMS provides integration across combat, navigation, and communication networks, ensuring continuous interoperability with other NATO assets.

The Blekinge-class development follows a complex historical trajectory. Originally conceived in the early 1990s under the “U-båt 2000” concept, the program was halted after the Cold War but revived in 2010 when Sweden sought to replace its Södermanland-class submarines. Disputes between the Swedish government and Kockums’ then-owner, ThyssenKrupp, led to state repossession of submarine blueprints and Saab’s acquisition of Kockums in 2014. The first contract for two A26 units was signed in June 2015 for SEK 8.2 billion, with initial deliveries planned for 2022 and 2024. After a 2021 renegotiation adding new capabilities, the total program value reached SEK 14 billion, with deliveries postponed to 2027 and 2028. A new agreement signed in October 2025 with the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) established a cost ceiling of SEK 25 billion ($2.3 billion), setting new delivery targets for 2031 and 2033. Saab also received a SEK 9.6 billion ($820 million) order covering the final production phase and additional materials for the two Blekinge-class boats between 2026 and 2032.

Export variants of the A26 include the Pelagic, Oceanic, and Oceanic Extended Range configurations. The Pelagic is optimized for coastal defense with a 50-meter hull and a 20-day AIP endurance, while the Oceanic variant is the base model for long-range patrols exceeding 30 days submerged. The Extended Range version surpasses 80 meters in length with endurance exceeding 50 days and a range beyond 10,000 nautical miles. Saab also markets the C71 Expeditionary variant, derived from the Blekinge and Collins-class designs, for operations exceeding 13,000 nautical miles. These versions include modular options for vertical launch systems, torpedo configurations, and mission-specific sensors. Saab’s current export efforts target navies such as Greece, Poland, Canada, and the Netherlands, where A26 derivatives compete against the Barracuda, Type 212CD, Scorpène, and KSS-III proposals.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.