Poland signed a contract with Swedish manufacturer Saab on Monday for three A26 Blekinge-class submarines under the Orka program. The deal, worth nearly 19 billion zloty, includes a leased Södermanland vessel to bridge the gap until the first new submarine arrives in 2031-2032.
The agreement was signed in Gdynia during the first Polish-Swedish intergovernmental consultations with Prime Ministers Donald Tusk and Ulf Kristersson present. The contract covers three submarines built on the A26 design, along with weapons, logistics and training packages. Total value is about 49 billion Swedish kronor, making it one of the largest arms deals in Polish history.
Poland will also lease the HMS Södermanland, an A17 class submarine from Sweden, for over 700 million zloty. This gap-filler will be handed over in 2027 after Polish crew training, replacing the aging ORP Orzeł, which has been in service for 40 years. The leased vessel will serve until the first new unit is accepted.
Detailed terms and delivery timeline
According to the Armament Agency, deliveries will be phased. The first submarine will be delivered between 2031 and 2032, allowing for crew training and sea trials under Polish command. Initial Swedish declarations had suggested 2030, but the final timeline extends to 2038 for all three units. The end date also marks when full underwater operational capabilities will be restored.
Saab will transfer maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) technology and competencies to Polish industry. This will ensure Poland’s independence in servicing and modernizing the submarines. The Swedish company also signed a memorandum with state-owned Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa to explore setting up a special vehicle for ship repairs.
Financing comes partly from the state budget and partly from the Armed Forces Support Fund managed by Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego. The Swedish Export Credit Agency (EKN) issued guarantees to enable BGK to secure funds for the program. A separate agreement between BGK and EKN was signed on the same day.
Broader polish-swedish defense cooperation
– Robimy to wszystko także dla naszych dzieci i wnuków, aby nasz region, nasze oba państwa, Morze Bałtyckie były obszarem pokoju i bezpieczeństwa, a nie, tak jak bywa dzisiaj, obszarem niepokoju i zagrożeń – powiedział premier Donald Tusk.
– Polska jest dla Szwecji największym rynkiem w Europie Środkowo-Wschodniej. Ponad 700 szwedzkich firm działa tutaj. To 10 tysięcy pracowników. W ostatnich 10 latach obrót handlowy między naszymi krajami podwoił się – stwierdził premier Szwecji Ulf Kristersson.
The Orka contract is part of a wider security architecture in the Baltic. Earlier, Sweden bought Polish Piorun anti-aircraft missile systems worth about 1.16 billion zloty. Poland previously purchased Carl Gustaf M4 recoilless rifles and Saab 340 AEW early warning aircraft. Polish shipyards built the hull for Sweden’s Artemis reconnaissance vessel and are now building two Delfin-class electronic reconnaissance ships for Poland, based on the Artemis design.
Additional agreements signed on Monday include an intergovernmental framework for future military purchases, a research and development implementation agreement, and a coordinated tender for a submarine rescue vessel. The rescue vessel program, codenamed Ratownik, is being built by PGZ consortium and was valued at around 1 billion zloty. A memorandum between Grupa WB and Saab covers cooperation on unmanned reconnaissance and strike systems, including Gladius systems.
Źródło: WNP.PL, Fot. PAP
