Poland Finalizes Historic 50 Billion Kronor Deal to Purchase Saab A26 Submarines

Poland has signed a major defense procurement agreement with Swedish defense company Saab to acquire three A26 Blekinge-class submarines. The deal, valued at around 47 to 50 billion kronor, was announced by Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson during a press conference held in Gdynia, Poland. The first submarine is set for delivery in 2031, with the third expected by 2038.

This agreement marks a significant milestone in military collaboration between Poland and Sweden. Saab confirmed the contract will not affect its existing commitments to producing two A26 submarines for Sweden, named HMS Blekinge and HMS Skåne, scheduled for delivery in 2031 and 2033 respectively. Maintenance of Poland's submarines will take place domestically, supporting long-term operational readiness.

The deal is projected to generate over 7,000 jobs in Poland, supported by Saab's committed investments worth hundreds of millions of euros. Beyond procurement, Sweden will transfer its older submarine HMS Södermanland to Poland under a rental contract lasting until 2032, providing Polish sailors with training opportunities on Swedish submarine systems. Poland will also be involved in testing these new submarines to ensure a smooth transition to active service.

Further strengthening ties, Kristersson announced the Baltic Sea Pact, a new security cooperation initiative aimed at boosting military collaboration between Sweden and Poland in the Baltic Sea region and enhancing allied security within NATO.

Saab CEO Micael Johansson expressed gratitude towards Poland for selecting the A26 platforms and highlighted the historical nature of this substantial contract. This partnership underscores growing bilateral defense relations and regional security cooperation amid evolving geopolitical challenges in Northern Europe.