# Poland signs $4.83 billion contract with Saab for three A26 submarines
> Signed on a warship deck in Gdynia with PMs Tusk and Kristersson present, the deal ends three decades of Polish submarine capability atrophy and gives Saab its largest-ever order

**Meta:** type: event · date: 2026-06-29 · heads: أموال من, اللعبة الطويلة · 25 takes · 11 lenses · 11 regions

## Summary

[Poland](/ar/entity/poland) signed a SEK 47 billion (~$4.83B) contract with Saab Kockums on June 29 for three A26 Blekinge-class diesel-electric submarines, ending the country's capability gap after operating no modern submarines for most of the past two decades. The ceremony took place aboard frigate ORP General Tadeusz Kościuszko in Gdynia with PMs Tusk and Kristersson present, and was filed simultaneously with Nasdaq Stockholm as a material disclosure. The deal includes weapons, crew training in Karlskrona (starting August 2026), and MRO infrastructure to be built in Poland through Saab and PGZ Stocznia Wojenna. An A17 Class gap-filler, HMS Södermanland, transfers to Poland around 2027 and serves until 2032. First new-build delivery is expected around 2030; the final boat by 2038.

## The split

Polish domestic coverage divides on pride versus concern. WP.pl headlines "ends the era of helplessness" while Defence24 focuses on the confirmation that Poland forewent cruise-missile capability entirely, a gap the IISS flags as the A26's main strategic weakness relative to Poland's stated deep-strike ambitions. Swedish state broadcaster SVT frames the deal as an expression of NATO integration. Russian specialist outlet Flotprom reports the SEK 47 billion value without comment but Russia's Baltic Fleet has separately flagged the A26's AIP stealth as its primary concern. Ukrainian and Belarusian opposition outlets frame the deal as direct NATO deterrence reinforcement on Russia's Baltic flank.

## By the numbers

- SEK 47 billion (~$4.83B / €4.5B / PLN 18-20B), total contract value
- 3, A26 Blekinge-class submarines ordered
- 2030, expected delivery of first submarine
- 2038, delivery of third and final submarine
- 2027-2032, HMS Södermanland gap-filler lease period
- 5, competitors beaten: Naval Group, TKMS, Fincantieri, Hanwha Ocean, Navantia
- +2.2%, Saab SAAB-B.ST share movement on signing day

## Why it matters

Poland is NATO's largest frontline state by population and has been the sole Baltic NATO member without operational submarines. The A26's AIP propulsion and Ghost stealth hull give [NATO](/ar/entity/nato) persistent Baltic Sea surveillance and sea-denial it lacked. The omission of cruise missiles limits the deterrence dividend; the Sejm is expected to press Defence Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz on the rationale.

## What to watch

- Whether Poland pursues a separate cruise-missile upgrade to the A26 or procures land-based deep-strike to compensate.
- Pace of MRO infrastructure build-up at Polish shipyards under the Saab-PGZ agreement.
- HMS Södermanland transfer logistics and whether crew erosion risk materialises before 2027.
- Whether the deal triggers parallel submarine acquisitions by other Baltic states (Lithuania, Latvia have discussed attack boats).

## Regional takes (batched by bias / lens)

### unlabelled
- **Polish Ministry of National Defence (gov.pl)** (Poland, pl) — Official MON confirmation of the signing ceremony aboard ORP General Tadeusz Kościuszko in Gdynia at 12:45 local time, with PM Tusk and Swedish PM Kristersson both attending. Confirms the contract covers three A26-class submarines, a weapons package, crew training and MRO infrastructure to be established in Poland.
  Source: https://www.gov.pl/web/obrona-narodowa/umowa-na-zakup-okretow-podwodnych-a26-dla-marynarki-wojennej-rp-podpisana
- **Saab AB (press release / Nasdaq Stockholm filing)** (Sweden, en) — Saab's material disclosure to Nasdaq Stockholm, confirming SEK 47 billion order for three A26 Blekinge-class submarines including weapons package, training support and MRO; sets out delivery schedule (first boat c. 2030, final 2038) and the interim lease of HMS Södermanland to Poland from approximately 2027 until 2032.
  > "Saab has received an order for three A26 submarines for the Polish Navy, with a total order value of approximately SEK 47 billion."
  Source: https://www.saab.com/newsroom/press-releases/2026/saab-receives-order-for-three-submarines-for-poland
- **Swedish Government Offices** (Sweden, en) — Stockholm's official framing positions the deal as a bilateral strategic deepening during intergovernmental consultations between Tusk and Kristersson, not merely a commercial transaction, linking submarine procurement to Sweden's growing NATO integration.
  Source: https://www.government.se/press-releases/2026/06/poland-signs-agreement-to-procure-submarines-from-saab-and-deepen-strategic-cooperation-with-sweden/
- **Rzeczpospolita** (Poland, pl) — 
  Source: https://www.rp.pl/biznes/art44706391-polska-kupuje-okrety-podwodne-orka-moze-byc-ostatnim-wielkim-kontraktem-dekady
- **TVN24** (Poland, pl) — 
  Source: https://tvn24.pl/polska/polska-i-szwecja-wzmacniaja-wspolprace-obronna-kupimy-okrety-podwodne-typu-a26-umowa-podpisana-st9119186
- **PAP (Polish Press Agency)** (Poland, pl) — 
  Source: https://www.pap.pl/aktualnosci/podpisano-umowe-na-zakup-trzech-okretow-podwodnych-a26-dla-marynarki-wojennej-rp
- **RMF24** (Poland, pl) — 
  Source: https://www.rmf24.pl/fakty/polska/news-polska-kupi-okrety-podwodne-a26-szczegoly-umowy-w-ramach-pro,nIdn,1008034
- **Notes from Poland** (Poland / United Kingdom, en) — 
  Source: https://notesfrompoland.com/2026/06/29/poland-signs-e4-5-billion-deal-to-buy-three-submarines-from-sweden/
- **Naval Today** (United Kingdom, en) — 
  Source: https://www.navaltoday.com/2026/06/29/poland-orders-three-a26-submarines-from-saab/
- **Global Banking and Finance** (United Kingdom, en) — 
  Source: https://www.globalbankingandfinance.com/saab-wins-4-83-billion-submarine-order-poland/
- **Euronews** (European Union, en) — 
  Source: https://www.euronews.com/2025/12/04/poland-invests-23-billion-in-swedish-submarines-to-modernise-navy
- **1prime.ru (PRIME wire)** (Russia, ru) — 
  Source: https://1prime.ru/20260627/polsha-871112259.html
- **Vzglyad (vz.ru)** (Russia, ru) — 
  Source: https://vz.ru/news/2026/6/12/1426727.html
- **Militarnyi** (Ukraine, en) — 
  Source: https://militarnyi.com/en/news/poland-concern-cruise-missiles-submarines/
- **Army Recognition** (France / Global, en) — 
  Source: https://armyrecognition.com/news/navy-news/2025/poland-and-baltic-states-expand-submarine-and-attack-boat-fleets-to-deter-russia-in-baltic-sea

### US defence-tech press; frames the signing as the conclusion of the seven-month Orka selection process
- **Breaking Defense** (United States, en) — Reports the $4.83 billion figure and the HMS Södermanland gap-filler lease, and contextualises the deal as the Orka programme's culmination after Poland had operated no submarines since its ageing Orzel-class was retired in the 2020s.
  > "The contract includes an interim submarine lease and crew training, ending Poland's capability gap."
  Source: https://breakingdefense.com/2026/06/poland-signs-4-8-billion-contract-for-saab-made-a26-submarines/

### US open-source defence analysis; detailed technical framing on Baltic operational environment
- **The War Zone** (United States, en) — Frames the A26 as purpose-designed for the shallow, acoustically demanding Baltic Sea, with Ghost stealth hull and AIP propulsion suited to long-duration covert patrol. Notes Poland's absence from Baltic submarine operations left NATO with a gap that German and Swedish boats had informally filled.
  > "The A26 is built for the Baltic, where shallow water and heavy noise make stealth particularly hard and particularly critical."
  Source: https://www.twz.com/sea/poland-to-buy-advanced-new-a26-submarines-from-sweden

### French defence trade press; leads on crew training and industrial cooperation timelines
- **Naval News** (France, en) — Adds detail absent from Saab's release: Polish crew training in Karlskrona begins August 2026; HMS Södermanland transfer is expected in 2027; MRO infrastructure being established through an industrial agreement between Saab and PGZ Stocznia Wojenna.
  > "Polish crew training at Karlskrona is set to begin in August 2026."
  Source: https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2026/06/saab-receives-order-for-three-a26-submarines-for-poland/

### Poland's largest news portal; nationalistic framing reflecting domestic relief
- **WP.pl (Wirtualna Polska)** (Poland, pl) — Headlines 'This agreement ends the era of helplessness,' capturing the domestic Polish sentiment that three decades without a functioning submarine force amounted to a strategic embarrassment for a NATO frontline state. Notes Tusk called the signing a 'historic day for Poland's security.'
  > "Ta umowa kończy erę bezsilności ,  this agreement ends the era of helplessness."
  Source: https://tech.wp.pl/okrety-podwodne-dla-polski-ta-umowa-konczy-ere-bezsilnosci,7302038132840640a

### Polish specialist defence outlet; sceptical of the cruise-missile gap
- **Defence24.pl** (Poland, pl) — Pre-signing investigation listing twelve unanswered questions, led by the decision confirmed at a February 25 Armaments Agency committee hearing to forgo cruise-missile capability in the A26 purchase; frames this as the most significant strategic gap and predicts opposition demands for answers in the Sejm.
  > "The ministry has not confirmed how Poland will achieve long-range strike from submarines without a cruise-missile option."
  Source: https://defence24.pl/sily-zbrojne/w-poniedzialek-podpisanie-umowy-na-orki-12-pytan-na-ktore-mon-musi-odpowiedziec

### Swedish public broadcaster; domestic perspective on the largest Swedish defence export since the JAS Gripen
- **SVT Nyheter** (Sweden, sv) — Reports the deal as worth 'almost 50 billion kronor' and frames it as a milestone for Swedish defence exports and Sweden's now full NATO membership, which removes previous political inhibitions on selling warships to states involved in conflicts.
  > "Ubåtsaffären med Polen är klar ,  värd nästan 50 miljarder kronor."
  Source: https://www.svt.se/nyheter/inrikes/ubatsaffaren-med-polen-klar-vard-50-miljarder

### Ukrainian wire; frames the deal as NATO deterrence against Russia
- **Ukrainian National News (UNN)** (Ukraine, en) — Headlines 'billion-dollar deal for Baltic Sea security,' foregrounding the deal's deterrence value against Russia from the perspective of the country most directly at war with Moscow. Notes Sweden and Poland are now both full NATO members, consolidating the Alliance's Baltic Sea posture.
  > "This deal for Baltic Sea security matters beyond Poland."
  Source: https://unn.ua/en/news/billion-dollar-deal-for-baltic-sea-security-poland-orders-three-submarines-from-swedish-company-saab

### Belarusian opposition-in-exile; frames the deal as NATO strengthening on Russia's Baltic flank
- **Charter '97 (Belarusian opposition)** (Belarus, ru) — Reports the signing positively from the Belarusian opposition perspective, framing Sweden's submarine sale to Poland as a direct indicator of how far Baltic NATO cohesion has advanced since Russia's 2022 invasion, with Sweden now both a member and a supplier of frontline capability.
  > "Польша підписала контракт зі Швецією на придбання підводних човнів."
  Source: https://charter97.org/ru/news/2026/6/29/689481

### Russian naval specialist outlet; matter-of-fact monitoring of Baltic arms buildup
- **Flotprom.ru** (Russia, ru) — Reports the SEK 47 billion value and three-boat order without editorial comment, consistent with Flotprom's practice of documenting Baltic naval balance shifts neutrally. Russian naval analysts have separately flagged the A26's AIP stealth as the primary concern for Baltic Fleet operations.
  > "Варшава заплатит Saab более €4 млрд за три подводные лодки."
  Source: https://flotprom.ru/2026/%D0%95%D0%B2%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%BF%D0%B066

### Independent strategic analysis; raises the cruise-missile gap as strategic risk
- **IISS Military Balance** (United Kingdom, en) — March 2026 analysis confirmed that Poland's Armaments Agency formally decided against acquiring vertical launch tubes for cruise missiles in the A26 contract. IISS frames this as a meaningful gap in Poland's deep-strike posture as the A26's primary value will be anti-submarine warfare and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance rather than land attack.
  > "Questions remain for Poland's deep-strike ambitions after the decision to forgo cruise missiles."
  Source: https://www.iiss.org/online-analysis/military-balance/2026/03/as-its-orka-programme-progresses-questions-remain-for-polands-deep-strike-ambitions/

## Across the graph
- Related: [[poland-germany-defence-pact-2026]], [[poland-nawrocki-budget-tribunal]]
- Entities: Poland, NATO, Baltic Sea

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