The Swedish government’s offer of Saab’s A26 submarines to Poland has been selected by the Polish government to replace the current Kilo-class submarine. At this point, Saab has not signed any contract nor received any order.
Saab press release
The Swedish offer comprises advanced A26 submarines from Saab, equipped with the latest innovations and technologies. The proposal includes cooperation with the Polish industry and knowledge transfer, securing a strategic partnership between Poland and Sweden.
“We are honored to have been selected and look forward to the coming negotiations with the Armaments Agency in Poland. The Swedish offer, featuring submarines tailored for the Baltic Sea, is the right choice for the polish people. It will significantly enhance the operational capability of the Polish Navy and benefit the Polish economy,” said Micael Johansson, President and CEO of Saab.
Saab and the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) will now follow the next steps in the procurement process together with Polish authorities.
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Naval News comments:
There are currently two Swedish A26 Blekinge-class submarines under production at Saab Kockums, It was announced in mid-October 2025 that Saab is set to deliver them in 2031 and 2033, following a contract renegotiation with FMV.
The Blekinge-class is a 65m long modern submarine with a surfaced displacement of 2,000 tonnes. Equipped with a Stirling AIP, it can dive for more than 18 days. Its standard complement consists in 26 sailors. The class can accommodate up to 35 sailors (commandos and passenger included).
Aside from Saab, bidders from five countries were competing for Poland’s Orka submarine acquistion program: Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, Italy’s Fincantieri, France’s Naval Group, Spain’s Navanti and South Korea’s Hanwha Ocean. Since the Summer of 2025, Polish officials have been visiting each country and shipbuilders to asses their offers and ability to deliver submarines at pace.
The Polish Navy currently has a single Kilo-class submarine, ORP Orzel, in its fleet. But it is unclear if it is still sea worthy.
