Poland has chosen Sweden’s Saab A26 submarines to replace its ageing Kilo-class submarine, under the long-running Orka programme. Warsaw announced it will purchase three boats, although no contract has yet been signed.
The selection of Saab’s A26 Blekinge-class design came after a competitive evaluation against Germany’s Type 212CD, France’s Scorpène, and offers from Italy’s Fincantieri, Spain’s Navantia, and South Korea’s Hanwha Ocean.
Saab, together with the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV), will now proceed with the next steps of the procurement process alongside Polish authorities.
Polish Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz described the announcement as “an extraordinarily important day for Poland’s security and for the Navy.” He said that the acquisition would strengthen national defence capabilities while also benefiting Poland’s economy and defence industry.
The Orka programme, initiated in 2014, aims to replace the single Kilo-class submarine, which entered service in 1986. The programme was revised in 2023, at which point Saab’s A26 design was competing
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