Poland and Sweden sign deal for three A26 submarines, first vessel due in 2030

Contract signing

On 29 June 2026, during the first Polish-Swedish intergovernmental consultations in Gdynia, the main contract for three A26 submarines was signed between the Polish Armament Agency and Saab. The Orka programme carries a value of between 15 and 20 billion PLN (approximately 50 billion SEK), making it one of the most expensive arms deals in Polish history. The three Blekinge-class boats, built by Saab Kockums, will be handed over starting in 2030, with the first unit spending roughly a year in Sweden for trials and crew training after formal acceptance.

The Orka programme and Sweden's purchase of a rescue ship and Piorun anti-aircraft missiles from Poland show that our countries are becoming equal partners.

Capabilities and replacement

The new submarines are diesel-electric with air-independent propulsion (AIP), allowing them to remain submerged for days without surfacing to charge batteries. They will replace the single remaining operational submarine, ORP Orzeł, which has served for decades. This is the first delivery of brand-new submarines to the Polish Navy in four decades; the six vessels commissioned since the 1950s were second-hand units from the Soviet Union and Norway.

Industrial and defence cooperation

Beyond the main contract, a series of accompanying agreements were concluded. An intergovernmental framework for future defence procurement was established, and a financial agreement was signed between Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego and the Swedish Export Credit Agency. Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ) and Saab signed a memorandum of understanding to create a special-purpose vehicle for submarine servicing, repair, and maintenance capabilities in Poland. A letter of intent was also exchanged between WB Group and Saab. Sweden confirmed the purchase of the Polish-built rescue vessel Ratownik.

Modern vessels are not just about the purchase. It is also the ability to service, repair and maintain them for decades. That is why developing these competencies in Poland is of strategic importance for national security and strengthens the domestic defence industry.

Strategic context

The consultations, led by Prime Ministers Donald Tusk and Ulf Kristersson and attended by defence, foreign, finance, infrastructure, and culture ministers from both countries, also addressed European security, NATO and EU cooperation, the situation in the Baltic Sea, and continued support for Ukraine. The Orka programme is intended to rebuild Polish naval capabilities and position the Polish submarine force among the leading regional fleets in NATO.

Timeline and training

To bridge the gap until the first A26 arrives, Sweden will provide an older A17-class submarine for Polish sailors to train on. The initial A26 unit is expected to be accepted in 2030 and will remain under the Polish flag in Sweden for about a year of testing and crew qualification before sailing to its homeport in Gdynia. Two further A26s will follow in subsequent years.