Poland signs agreement to procure submarines from Saab and deepen strategic cooperation with Sweden

Under the agreement, Poland will lease the Swedish HMS Södermanland submarine until 2032. This solution will enable Poland to rapidly reinforce its operational underwater capacity while awaiting the delivery of the new submarines.

Sweden has also committed to providing support to the New Type Submarine (NTS) programme from approximately 2027 to 2038, with an option to extend. This support will include Poland’s participation in Sweden’s test and experiment activities with the HMS Blekinge and HMS Skåne A26 submarines, which will create conditions to accelerate the build-up of Poland’s operational capacity.

“This Swedish-Polish submarine cooperation will enhance competitiveness and economic growth and create thousands of jobs in both countries,” says Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. 

Maritime cooperation is at the heart of the work related to the Baltic Sea Pact – the deepened bilateral security and defence cooperation that Sweden and Poland launched in conjunction with government-level talks on 29 June. The Pact will be developed based on three pillars: cooperation on security and defence policy, military cooperation, and defence industry cooperation. The objective is to strengthen security in the Baltic Sea region and constrain Russia’s ability to expand its power and inflict harm, jointly as NATO Allies.

“As close partners on the Baltic Sea, Sweden and Poland will deepen their cooperation to strengthen security throughout the region. Our cooperation rests on a common view of the long-term threat that Russia constitutes and the importance of continuing to support Ukraine,” adds Mr Kristersson.

Training of Polish submarine crews will begin in August, earlier than previously planned. Meanwhile, training capacity has been significantly expanded to meet Poland’s needs. This is the most extensive submarine-related training and support initiative that the Swedish Navy has ever implemented, in terms of both scope and timeframe.

“Poland’s choice of the A26 is based on the submarines’ unique characteristics, specifically developed for the challenging conditions of the Baltic Sea,” says Minister for Defence Pål Jonson. “The shallow waters, complex seabed structures and limited operational space place high demands on stealth, manoeuvrability and endurance – areas in which the A26 offers advanced solutions,” he adds.

“The ties between Sweden and Poland are stronger than ever, and the agreement signed today is clear evidence of that. In light of the serious geopolitical situation, this is a crucial step for security in the Baltic Sea region,” says Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard.