Saab to supply three A26 Blekinge-class submarines to Poland to improve Baltic Sea security.

Poland selected Sweden’s Saab A26 Blekinge-class submarines for the Orka program and will begin negotiations on a three boat procurement expected to extend into 2026.

On November 26, 2025, Poland announced that it had selected Sweden to supply three Saab A26 Blekinge-class submarines under the Orka program, one of the country’s largest naval modernization plans to restore a full submarine force in the Baltic Sea after years of decline. The government declared that Sweden’s state-backed offer based on Saab’s design met all operational, industrial, and schedule requirements defined in the tender, while no contract has yet been signed, and negotiations are expected to continue into 2026. Swedish authorities, Saab representatives, and Polish officials confirmed that the selection initiates a new phase of procurement planning and intergovernmental coordination, with further announcements expected before the end of the year.
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The development history of the A26 traces back to the “U båt 2000” concept of the early 1990s, which was halted after the Cold War before being revived in 2010 as Sweden sought replacements for the Södermanland-class. (Picture source: Saab)

Poland stated that Sweden presented the most comprehensive offer among the six bidders, with Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz explaining that delivery timing, Baltic Sea suitability, operational capability, and industrial cooperation were decisive factors. He estimated the value of the agreement at roughly 10 billion zlotys, while separate assessments placed the figure near €2.36 billion or around $2.73 billion, and he expressed a desire to finalize the commercial contract no later than the second quarter of 2026. The first A26 submarine is expected to arrive in 2030, forming the foundation of a renewed undersea fleet, and a Swedish-supplied gap filler submarine, likely an A19 Gotland-class, will enable training from 2026 onwards and arrive in 2027. This measure aims to ensure that Polish sailors can begin transition tasks before the new boats reach operational status and prevent a capability vacuum inside the Polish Navy. Sweden also committed to purchasing certain Polish-made armaments and supporting shipyard capabilities needed for long-term maintenance and overhaul activities.

Sweden emphasized that the decision strengthens bilateral defense ties and supports its own national underwater industrial base, which is centered on Saab and the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration. Saab CEO Micael Johansson stated that the company is prepared to enter negotiations with the Armaments Agency in Poland, while clarifying that no contract or order has been received to date. Saab’s shares rose between approximately 2.4 percent and more than 3.1 percent following Poland’s announcement, reflecting market expectations associated with a multi-boat order in addition to the existing Swedish requirement. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Defence Minister Pål Jonson both highlighted common challenges in the Baltic Sea, which has become a focal point of tension since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and the importance of strengthening regional underwater cooperation. Swedish representatives also noted that the A26 is specifically engineered for the acoustic and environmental conditions of the Baltic basin, and that the program remains central to Sweden’s naval modernization plans. Saab and the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration will now proceed with detailed coordination alongside Polish authorities.

Initially launched as a procurement initiative in June 2013, then later revised and reactivated in 2023, the Orka program is a long-standing demand to replace the Polish Navy’s aging Project 877E Kilo-class submarine and restore a multirole undersea capability after years of delays driven by shifting political priorities, budget constraints, and competition with land and air modernization projects. Poland currently operates only one submarine, the Soviet-era ORP Orzeł, and modernization efforts have been repeatedly postponed despite early planning and periodic political commitments. The program, revived in 2023, is now framed as a core element of Poland’s strategy for maritime security in the Baltic Sea, an area increasingly characterized by tensions linked to critical underwater infrastructure, including communication cables and energy pipelines. The Polish government has asserted that the acquisition of new submarines is necessary to support sea denial, reconnaissance, patrol, and infrastructure protection tasks, as well as to ensure interoperability with NATO forces and improve responses to regional uncertainties. Seven shipyards from six nations submitted offers, reflecting the scale and strategic relevance of the procurement.

Specific requirements within Orka call for three new submarines of approximately 3,000 tons capable of carrying heavyweight torpedoes, anti-ship missiles, depending on configuration, seabed warfare payloads, and modern communication, sonar, and combat systems. The estimated total cost of the program, including maintenance, repair, overhaul, and lifecycle support, has been assessed at figures potentially reaching the equivalent of several billion dollars across multiple decades. Poland expects the submarines to deliver extended submerged endurance, improved acoustic discretion, and compatibility with NATO command and information frameworks. The program also includes extensive industrial participation requirements, mandating domestic shipyard involvement in assembly, support structures, and workforce development. As an additional gesture linked to its competing bid, South Korea planned the free transfer of the Jang Bogo submarine by the end of 2025, but it is not yet clear whether Seoul will do so following the selection of the A26 by Poland.

Export variants of the A26 include the Pelagic for coastal defense offering a 20-day endurance on AIP, the Oceanic version for patrol endurance exceeding 30 days submerged, and the Extended Range variant exceeding 80 meters in length with endurance past 50 days and ranges above 10,000 nautical miles. (Picture source: Saab)

The development history of the A26 traces back to the “U båt 2000” concept of the early 1990s, which was halted after the Cold War before being revived in 2010 as Sweden sought replacements for the Södermanland-class. Tensions between the Swedish state and the then-German owner of Kockums led to the state reclaiming key design material and Saab acquiring the submarine division in 2014, clearing the path for a 2015 contract for two A26 submarines initially valued at approximately 8.2 to 8.6 billion Swedish crowns. Delivery dates shifted from planned handovers in 2022 and 2024 to 2027 and 2028 following capability expansions and cost adjustments, and a subsequent renegotiation in October 2025 set a new ceiling of about 25 billion crowns and revised delivery dates in 2031 and 2033. A keel-laying ceremony for HSwMS Blekinge took place on June 30 at the Karlskrona shipyard, symbolizing Sweden’s restoration of submarine construction capability after more than twenty years. Saab also received a 9.6 billion crown contract for the final production phase from 2026 to 2032. Poland’s choice brings the future A26 fleet to at least five submarines and establishes a strategic industrial partnership linking Swedish and Polish interests in Baltic Sea security.

The A26 Blekinge-class, described by Saab as the world’s first fifth-generation conventional submarine, is an advanced diesel-electric vessel built around a multi-domain signature reduction concept that includes acoustic, magnetic, radar, electric, infrared, and visual suppression techniques tailored to the shallow and acoustically complex Baltic Sea. Saab uses specialized hull geometry and external coatings to lower target echo strength without compromising hydrodynamic efficiency, while an adaptive degaussing system regulates magnetic emissions across varying conditions. Static and dynamic electric signatures are minimized through corrosion management systems and automated field control, and the reinforced hull supports operations in mined areas while allowing bottoming on the seabed for improved concealment. The propulsion system combines a diesel-electric machinery with four Kockums MkV V4-275R Stirling air-independent propulsion (AIP) units, enabling submerged endurance of up to 45 days, including approximately 18 days exclusively on AIP. Notably, the Stirling engines use stored liquid oxygen and diesel fuel in a closed cycle that produces low noise and vibration characteristics.

The submarine’s seabed warfare capability is centered on a 1.5-meter-diameter multi-mission portal located in the bow, which functions as a dive lock for unmanned underwater vehicles, swimmer delivery vehicles, and small groups of divers conducting specialized tasks. This system enhances support for protecting or disrupting undersea infrastructure, surveillance of maritime chokepoints, and control of important communication corridors in the Baltic Sea. The A26 hull structure permits safe seabed contact, while the X rudder arrangement improves maneuverability in confined waters and enhances safety in shallow environments. Armament includes four 533 millimeter tubes for heavyweight Torped 62 or Torped 63 weapons, two 400 millimeter tubes for the lightweight Torped 47, and the capacity to carry mines or mission-specific payloads. The sensor suite integrates bow and flank sonar arrays by Atlas Elektronik, high-frequency intercept systems, the Kongsberg SA9510S mine avoidance sonar, and Safran Series 30 optronic masts, all connected through Saab’s 9LV combat management system that synthesizes navigation, sonar, and weapon data across linked networks.

The A26 measures approximately 66 to 66.1 meters in length with a beam of 6.75 meters, a draught of around 6 meters, and a displacement of roughly 1,925 tons surfaced and nearly 2,100 tons submerged. Its submerged speed reaches about 20 kilometers per hour, and its operational range and endurance are designed to support extended Baltic patrols and longer transit routes in blue water if required. Standard crew is listed between 17 and 26 sailors, expandable to around 35 when carrying special operations personnel or additional mission teams. The modular internal arrangement simplifies future upgrades and reduces maintenance intervals, supporting a service life consistent with evolving NATO requirements. Export-oriented variants include the Pelagic for coastal defense at 50 meters in length and 20-day endurance on AIP, the Oceanic version for patrol endurance exceeding 30 days submerged, and the Extended Range variant exceeding 80 meters in length with endurance past 50 days and ranges above 10,000 nautical miles. Saab also markets a C71 Expeditionary variant for operations beyond 13,000 nautical miles, adapted from both the Blekinge and Collins classes.

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.