Poland’s Ministry of National Defense has selected Sweden’s Saab A26 Blekinge design for its new submarine fleet, aiming to procure three submarines under the Orka program with a contract expected by year-end.
Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz hailed the decision as a “great day for the security of the Polish state and Navy,” emphasizing it will build a new security architecture in the Baltic Sea. He aims to sign an agreement with the Swedish government within weeks.
The selection followed an intense competition among six European and Asian nations, with a key factor being the respective industries’ readiness for cooperation with Polish defense companies. This decision strengthens Poland’s deterrence in the Baltic Sea, particularly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Read more about the competition: Defense News.
Poland plans to equip the three submarines with cruise missiles, with the first delivery anticipated by 2030. To bridge the gap, Warsaw also intends to acquire a “gap filler” boat by 2027 for training its sailors.
Choosing an EU member state aligns with Poland’s strategy to utilize loans from the EU’s SAFE program, which has allocated €43.7 billion ($50.7 billion) to Warsaw for arms purchases. More on EU defense loans: Defense News.
Despite initial cost estimates, a Polish think tank analyst suggests the acquisition will likely exceed PLN 10 billion ($2.7 billion), and the extent of Polish industry’s involvement remains unclear. Delays in Sweden’s A26 deliveries also cast uncertainty on Poland’s 2030 timeline.
Saab touts the A26 as a fifth-generation submarine with extremely low acoustic and magnetic signatures, making it “among the world’s hardest-to-detect submarines,” especially in the Baltic Sea.
This acquisition is urgent, as the Polish Navy currently operates only one outdated, Soviet-designed Kilo-class submarine, the ORP Orzel.
Saab is required to cooperate on the procurement with PGZ Naval Shipyard, a part of Poland’s leading state-run defense group. Saab CEO Micael Johansson expressed confidence in the Swedish offer, noting its benefits for both the Polish Navy and economy.
Poland will be the second nation, after Sweden, to order the A26 Blekinge. Sweden recently placed an order for the final manufacturing phase of two Blekinge-class subs for approximately SEK 9.6 billion ($1 billion), with deliveries scheduled between 2026 and 2032.
This strategic move by Poland comes as other NATO allies, like Germany, are also enhancing their maritime capabilities. Germany is deploying new P-8 Poseidon sub-hunting planes to bolster surveillance in the North Atlantic and Baltic Sea regions. These efforts collectively strengthen regional security against evolving threats.
The joint focus on anti-submarine warfare and maritime reconnaissance highlights a concerted effort among NATO members to enhance collective defense. The P-8 Poseidon, like Poland’s new submarines, plays a critical role in monitoring and responding to subsurface threats. Strategic deployments are key to this.