Poland is set to buy three A26 submarines to meet the requirements of the Orka programme. (Saab)
Poland has selected Sweden as its preferred partner for the supply of new submarines, the country’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz announced on 26 November.
The Ministry of National Defence’s (MND’s) Armament Agency will now move forward with negotiations for the purchase of three Saab Kockums-built A26 air independent propulsion (AIP) submarines under the Orka programme. The Polish government is looking to conclude a deal – estimated at PLN10 billion (USD2.73 billion) – no later than the end of the second quarter of 2026.
Six submarine builders – Fincantieri (Italy), Hanwha Ocean (South Korea), Naval Group (France), Navantia (Spain), Saab (Sweden) and TKMS (Germany) – were in the running for the Orka programme. According to Kosiniak-Kamysz, the Swedish bid offered the best terms in respect of price, delivery, and suitability for operations in the Baltic Sea.
In addition, the Swedish proposal committed to technology co-operation and proposed purchases of Polish defence materiel. This includes a rescue ship to be built in a Polish shipyard as a replacement for the Royal Swedish Navy’s (RSwN’s) ageing HMS
Belos
.
The next step, which could be concluded by the end of 2025, is for the two governments to sign a bilateral agreement. This will be followed by detailed commercial negotiations to finalise the sales agreement.
In a statement, Saab said that the Swedish offer “includes co-operation with Polish industry and knowledge transfer, securing a strategic partnership between Poland and Sweden”. Sweden’s Minister of Defence Pål Jonson said the deal would strengthen the common Swedish-Polish defence industrial base.
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