The government of Poland has selected Sweden’s offer to acquire three Saab A26 attack submarines under the ORKA Program. The decision aims to replace the current Kilo-class submarine ORP Orzeł, the only unit still in service within the Polish submarine fleet.
According to Saab, the proposal includes A26 submarines equipped with state-of-the-art technologies, along with industrial cooperation and knowledge transfer to the Polish defense industry. So far, Saab has not signed any contracts nor received formal orders, but a negotiation process will now begin with Poland’s Armament Agency.
“We are honored to have been selected and look forward to the upcoming negotiations with the Armament Agency in Poland. The Swedish offer, featuring submarines designed for operations in the Baltic Sea, is the right choice for the Polish people. It will significantly enhance the operational capability of the Polish Navy and benefit the Polish economy,” said Micael Johansson, President and CEO of Saab.
The company will work together with the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) in the next stages of the acquisition process, in coordination with the Polish authorities.
Statement from the Polish Government
Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, confirmed the selection through an official statement. He noted: “A crucial day for the security of Poland and our Navy. Poland will purchase three submarines from Sweden. This decision establishes a new security architecture in the Baltic Sea.”
He also emphasized that the contract will create new capabilities for the country’s economy and defense industry, adding: “The ORKA program has been a priority for our government from the very beginning. We are keeping our word.”
Status of the Polish submarine fleet
The Polish Navy operates only the ORP Orzeł, a Kilo-class submarine in service since 1986. The unit returned to operations in 2024 after a prolonged repair process begun in 2014. During its time at the Gdynia shipyard, structural damage was detected that required replacing hull plates and other interventions. The vessel also suffered a fire in 2017 during battery unloading, which prolonged its inactivity.
The Navy’s official statement reported that ORP Orzeł “conducted underwater tests at periscope depth, full-depth submersion at various depths, and snorkel-depth navigation” during its return to service.
Following the retirement of the Norwegian-origin Kobben-class submarines, the fleet was reduced to the Orzeł, which keeps the urgency to advance with the ORKA Program to restore submarine capability.
International competition for the ORKA Program
In recent years, several international companies sought to position themselves as candidates for the program. In September 2025, France’s Naval Group and the Polish company PGZ agreed on industrial cooperation involving technology transfer, local production, and engineering support, opening the possibility of offering Scorpène-class submarines for the fleet renewal.
Earlier modernization plans for the ORP Orzeł—such as integration of the SUBTICS system, new periscopes, updated sonar, and F-21 torpedoes—were canceled, leaving the ORKA Program as the main path to restore submarine capability.
Next steps
With the selection of the A26, Poland begins a new negotiation phase to define technical characteristics, timelines, and industrial cooperation arrangements. The official goal is to incorporate three attack submarines with AIP technology, modern combat systems, and missile-launching capability, consolidating a structural shift in the country’s naval defense.
*Images for illustrative purposes.
*Translated by Constanza Matteo
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