“It is a very large and long-term deal — it will make the Polish Navy one of the strongest in all of NATO. A strong Polish submarine force strengthens security in our shared Baltic Sea and across the alliance,” Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson wrote on X after the agreement was announced.
The contract: SEK 47 billion for three A26 submarines
Saab has finalized a SEK 47 billion ($4.8 billion) contract with the Polish government for the production of three Swedish-made A26 submarines. The vessels are intended to replace Poland’s Soviet-era Kilo-class submarines, and the signed package includes a weapon package plus a training-support element. Saab framed the deal as a significant reinforcement of Poland’s naval capabilities.
How the sale unfolded: selection and schedule
Poland officially selected Saab’s offer seven months before the contract was finalized, choosing it over “a multitude of pan-European contenders,” according to the announcement. The contract sets a long delivery horizon: final deliveries are planned for 2038. That schedule establishes a multi-year production and introduction timeline for the three submarines.
Weapons, sensors and acoustic claims
According to Saab’s promotional material, the A26 submarines are equipped with long-range precision strike torpedoes and offer the possibility to also carry submarine-launched missiles to engage targets both at sea and on land. Saab advertises the A26 as having an “extremely-low” acoustic signature, “far lower than the frequency ranges of traditional submarines.” Those capability claims form the technical basis Saab presents to justify the platform for Poland’s replacement need.
Industrial participation and investment in Poland
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson added that “hundreds” of Polish companies are set to become new subcontractors to Saab as a result of the programme. Saab, described in the announcement as a Linköping-based company, said it would invest up to €100 million ($114 million) in Poland. Those commitments combine procurement spending with stated industrial offsets and capital investment tied to the contract.
What this means for the Polish Navy, Saab, and Polish suppliers
- Polish Navy: The three A26 boats are positioned to replace the country’s Kilo-class submarines, putting a multi-year modernization plan in place that culminates with final deliveries planned for 2038.
- Saab: The company framed the deal as strengthening a strategic partnership, with President and CEO Micael Johansson saying, “We are deeply honoured that Poland has chosen Saab’s submarines to bolster its defence capabilities and strengthen the strategic partnership between our two nations.” Saab has committed production, weapons integration, and training-support as part of the contract.
- Polish suppliers: Hundreds of firms are cited as prospective subcontractors, and Saab’s pledged investment of up to €100 million ($114 million) in Poland ties industrial participation directly to the programme.
The package ties Poland’s submarine modernization to a single platform through a contract worth SEK 47 billion ($4.8 billion), includes weapons and training support, and schedules final deliveries in 2038. Whether measured in capability claims, industrial participation, or the headline cost, the agreement creates a long runway of production and cooperation between Saab and a broad circle of Polish companies that will unfold over the next decade-plus.
