The Polish government has formally selected Sweden’s Saab A26 Blekinge-class submarines for its long-delayed Orka submarine program, a procurement expected to total around 10 billion Polish zloty ($2.52 billion).
Sweden’s offer beat out competing bids from Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, Italy’s Fincantieri, France’s Naval Group, Spain’s Navantia, South Korea’s Hanwha Ocean and Saab-Kockum, Breaking Defense writes.
The A26 platform — designed for stealth, modularity, and operations in shallow waters — has long been viewed as well-suited for Baltic Sea missions and is a major step toward modernising Poland’s undersea fleet, which currently relies on a single Soviet-era Kilo-class diesel-electric submarine.
Despite the high-profile announcement, key details remain unresolved. Officials on both sides stressed that no contract has been signed and no purchase will be finalized before the end of 2025. Negotiations between Warsaw and Stockholm are now underway, and it is still unclear whether Poland will receive newly built submarines or a mix that could include used Swedish boats.
Polish Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz framed the selection as a historic milestone for Poland’s defence posture and its deepening security ties with Sweden. He told TVP that an intergovernmental agreement could be concluded by the end of the year, opening the way for deliveries beginning in 2030. The deal, he said, would strengthen Poland’s underwater deterrence at a time of heightened tension in the Baltic region.
Saab, whose A26 design forms the basis of Sweden’s next-generation undersea fleet, publicly welcomed the Polish decision.
“We are honored to have been selected and look forward to the coming negotiations with the Armaments Agency in Poland,” Saab CEO Micael Johansson stated in a press release.
The company has emphasised that the A26’s capabilities, including advanced stealth features and adaptability for future systems, make it a strong match for Polish and regional security needs.
If finalised, the Orka acquisition would represent one of Poland’s most consequential naval investments in decades, further expanding its sweeping modernization drive across land, air, and maritime forces. Negotiations over the coming months will determine the exact configuration of the submarine package, the industrial cooperation involved, and the timeline for delivery into service.
By Sabina Mammadli