Poland buys three Saab A26 submarines, putting quiet boats under the Baltic
Poland's $4.8 billion order for three Saab A26 submarines is NATO's largest Baltic undersea buy in decades, aimed straight at Russia's Kaliningrad fleet.
Poland's $4.8 billion order for three Saab A26 submarines is NATO's largest Baltic undersea buy in decades, aimed straight at Russia's Kaliningrad fleet.
Poland's State Treasury Armaments Agency signed for three A26 submarines in Gdynia on Monday, Defence Blog reported. Saab valued the order at about SEK 47 billion, roughly $4.83 billion. It covers weapons, training and support, and Saab calls it the largest contract in its history.
The deal closes the Orka programme. Saab's design beat five rival yards, Defence Blog reported: Naval Group of France, Germany's ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, Italy's Fincantieri, South Korea's Hanwha Ocean and Spain's Navantia. The talks nearly broke down in June over Warsaw's industrial offset demands.
The A26 Blekinge class is a diesel-electric boat. Stirling air-independent propulsion lets it stay submerged past 18 days, and Saab built the hull for the shallow, acoustically difficult Baltic. It can be fitted to launch Tomahawk land-attack missiles, recover undersea drones and lay mines. Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said the boats will also deploy drone swarms run from aboard, Defense News reported from a ministry statement.
Delivery runs long. The first boat falls in 2031, the third in 2038, Saab said. Until then Poland will lease the Swedish boat HMS Sodermanland to begin crew training. The order replaces one Soviet-era Kilo, the only submarine still in Polish service.
Look across the water for the reason. Russia's Kaliningrad enclave hosts a Baltic Fleet base of submarines and surface combatants. That base is why the region anchors NATO anti-submarine planning. Three boats able to stay down for weeks and carry cruise missiles give Poland a sea-denial tool it has lacked.
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Subscribe Free →Saab will also build maintenance and overhaul capacity inside Poland with local industry, Naval News reported. The contract lifts the A26 line from two Swedish boats to five. A delayed two-boat program now runs to five, funded by a NATO buyer that wants the Baltic harder for Russia's fleet to cross.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Poland buy from Saab?
Poland signed a contract for three A26 Blekinge-class submarines worth around SEK 47 billion, about $4.83 billion, including a weapons package plus training and support, according to Saab and the Polish Ministry of National Defence. Saab calls it the largest order in its history.
What is the Orka programme?
Orka is Poland's long-running effort to restore its submarine force. The A26 deal closes it. Defence Blog reported that Saab's design beat offers from France's Naval Group, Germany's ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, Italy's Fincantieri, South Korea's Hanwha Ocean and Spain's Navantia.
What can the A26 do?
Defence Blog reported that the diesel-electric A26 uses Stirling air-independent propulsion to stay submerged more than 18 days, can be fitted to launch Tomahawk land-attack missiles, can recover undersea drones, and can lay mines. Poland's defense minister said the boats will deploy drone swarms run from aboard, Defense News reported.
When will the submarines arrive?
Saab said the first boat is due in 2031 and all three by 2038. In the meantime Poland will operate the Swedish submarine HMS Sodermanland under a separate lease to begin crew training, replacing the single Soviet-era Kilo it still floats.
Why does this matter for the Baltic?
Russia's Kaliningrad enclave hosts a Baltic Fleet base with submarines and surface combatants, a main driver of NATO anti-submarine planning. Three quiet boats carrying cruise missiles shift Poland from token presence toward sea denial. Naval News reported that Saab will also stand up maintenance and overhaul in Poland and that the order expands the A26 run from two boats to five.
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Marcus Schuler
Marcus Schuler edits BattlePolicy, a daily defense-technology brief connecting the companies and capabilities behind modern war to the contest among Europe, the US, Russia, and China.