Record contract for “Orka” submarines signed. “Underwater F-35s”

In Gdynia, aboard ORP Kościuszko, a contract was signed for the purchase of A26 submarines for the Polish Navy. The document was initialled by Mikael Johansson, representing Saab, and Michał Marciniak, Deputy Head of the Armament Agency.

Historically strongest relations

According to Prime Minister Donald Tusk, today’s meeting marks the culmination of another stage of friendly cooperation between Poland and Sweden. As the head of the Polish government noted, the agreement concluded in Gdynia concerned not only submarines for the Polish Navy, but also several other arrangements, including the acquisition by Sweden of the rescue vessel Ratownik and further investment by Saab in Poland.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson stressed the historic nature of Monday’s visit. He noted that the signing has been accompanied by the largest delegation of Swedish ministers in history visiting Poland. Kristersson said that Warsaw-Stockholm relations are currently better and deeper than ever before.

The Swedish PM emphasized that over the past 10 years, the value of trade between Poland and Sweden has doubled. Poland is now Sweden’s largest market in the whole of Central and Eastern Europe. More than 700 Swedish companies operate in Poland, employing as many as 110,000 people. 

Kristersson also recalled that the cost of acquiring three A26-type submarines for Poland will amount to almost SEK 50 billion, or nearly PLN 20 billion, equivalent to EUR 4.5 billion.

He noted that the procurement is a vast undertaking, through which Poland will receive an exceptionally strong fleet. Kristersson added and stressed that the entailed investment will create new jobs in Poland, and Polish companies will be involved in the project as subcontractors, referring to a Polish-Swedish „Baltic pact” based on cooperation between the two countries« defence industries.

A new security architecture

Following the remarks by Prime Ministers Tusk and Kristersson, the defence ministers of Poland and Sweden took the floor.

„We are finalising the longest-running modernisation programme, one that for 30 years could not reach its conclusion,” said Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, stressing that the contract for the „Orkas” „builds a new security architecture for Poland, Sweden, and the whole of NATO.”

The Deputy Prime Minister in the Polish government spoke further about the capabilities of the A26-type submarines. „We are concluding a contract for the most advanced fifth-generation submarines. They possess operational capabilities tailored both to naval operations and to special operations forces. They can operate swarms of drones and manage the entire security architecture in the region. They can be compared to »F-35s underwater« — they are completely invisible to the adversary,” the defence minister said, praising the acquisition.   

Kosiniak-Kamysz also commented on the so-called bridge solution, or gap-filler: the temporary provision of existing equipment, namely the A17, which will allow crews to train and defence capabilities to be maintained until the new target vessels, the A26 submarines, are delivered. According to assurances given by the ministers, an armed A17-type submarine will be available to the Polish side from 2027. Training for Polish sailors, meanwhile, may begin as early as August this year. 

Swedish Minister for Defence Pål Jonson stated that Sweden is not looking for a customer but for a partner, emphasizing the importance of that partnership. Jonson also stressed that the established relationship must be two-way in nature, and it must be inseparably accompanied by close industrial cooperation. He said the agreement signed is a milestone in Polish-Swedish relations, also being the largest contract in the history of the Polish Navy.