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Poland’s Ministry of National Defence has chosen the A26 Blekinge-class submarine developed by Saab of Sweden as the country’s future submarine platform. The selection concluded a competitive process involving proposals from six European and Asian suppliers. Poland intends to purchase three submarines, and officials expect the contract to be finalized before the end of the year.
“This is a milestone for Poland’s security and a major step forward for our Navy,” Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz announced on Nov. 26. He emphasized that the deal fulfills long-standing government commitments under the Orka program and signals a strengthening of military capability in the Baltic region. The minister stated that Warsaw plans to finalize a cooperation agreement with Sweden within the next few weeks.
Over recent months, Polish representatives held talks and reviewed submarine proposals in Sweden, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and South Korea. One of the decisive elements in selecting the A26 was the willingness of foreign partners to work directly with Polish defense companies during production.
The submarines are expected to bolster Poland’s deterrence posture in response to rising regional tensions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. All three vessels are planned to be equipped with cruise missiles. The first A26 is anticipated to join the Polish fleet by 2030. While the class is being built, Poland also plans to acquire an interim training submarine, targeted for delivery by 2027.
Choosing a supplier from within the European Union aligns with Poland’s intention to finance the program through the EU’s SAFE initiative, from which Warsaw has been granted €43.7 billion in loan funding for arms acquisition. However, one Polish defense analyst noted that the final cost is likely to exceed the original estimate of roughly PLN 10 billion, and the exact level of domestic industrial participation remains uncertain. They also warned that delays already affecting Sweden’s own A26 program could push back Poland’s expected delivery timeline.
Saab markets the Blekinge-class as a fifth-generation submarine with exceptionally low acoustic and magnetic detectability, drawing on decades of Swedish expertise in Baltic Sea stealth operations.
The purchase is considered urgent because the Polish Navy currently relies on only one aging submarine, the Soviet-era ORP Orzeł. As part of the contract, Saab will partner with PGZ Naval Shipyard, a subsidiary of Poland’s state-run defense group PGZ.
Saab CEO Micael Johansson welcomed the upcoming negotiations, stating that the A26 is optimized for Baltic conditions and will significantly boost Poland’s naval readiness while supporting domestic industry.
With this decision, Poland becomes the second customer for the A26 Blekinge-class, after Sweden. In October 2025, Saab announced a large follow-on contract from the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration for continued construction and expanded material support for its two ordered Blekinge-class submarines, valued at approximately SEK 9.6 billion and scheduled for delivery between 2026 and 2032.
