As the development of the future A26 “Blekinge” class progresses, the Swedish Navy has achieved a new milestone in the maintenance and modernization of its current Attack Submarine Force. This was marked by the recent launch of the submarine HMS Halland by Saab, making it the third and final Gotland-class unit to undergo an upgrade program.
Currently, the Swedish Navy’s Submarine Force consists of four units: one belonging to the Västergötland class (with a displacement of 1,100 tons) and three of the aforementioned Gotland class (with a displacement of 1,500 tons). Incorporated during the 1980s and 1990s, respectively, Swedish naval authorities, anticipating delays in the A26-class development program, initiated a modernization program for the entire fleet as part of a mid-life upgrade.
As previously reported, the first two Gotland-class units, HMS Gotland and HMS Uppland, have already completed their respective modernizations, with the second unit being delivered at the end of 2020. Subsequently, in July last year, the only Västergötland-class unit, HMS Södermanland, was also launched after completing its upgrade by Saab.
On February 13, Saab and the Swedish Navy celebrated the launch of the third and final modernized Gotland-class submarine at the Karlskrona shipyard. One of the key aspects of the modernization is that these submarines have been equipped with new systems that will be featured in the future A26 class, allowing for their testing and technological maturation in the coming years.
According to Saab, the modernization of HMS Halland included the replacement and installation of more than twenty core systems essential to the submarine’s operation, including sensor and command systems. This upgrade involved an investment of $116 million under the contract awarded to the company in March 2022.
The Swedish company has highlighted the crucial role of the Swedish Navy’s submarines in protecting critical infrastructure and maritime routes in the Baltic Sea. Regarding this, Saab’s Head of Business Area Kockums, Mats Wicksell, stated: “The launch of HMS Halland is a testament to Saab’s ability to modernize and deliver advanced submarines with the capabilities required by the Swedish Navy. With HMS Halland, the Swedish Navy, and by extension NATO, gains an additional asset for defending and monitoring the Baltic Sea.”
Following the launch of HMS Halland, Saab and the Swedish Navy will begin a series of tests and evaluations to verify the performance of all the new systems installed on the submarine, paving the way for its return to service at an undisclosed date.
Photos: Saab.
