The Polish Ministry of Defense has officially identified Saab’s A26 submarine as the winning solution in its high-profile Orca submarine replacement program. Designed to retire Poland’s aging Kilo-class platform, the A26 beat out competitive offers from several top-tier shipbuilders, including Naval Group, TKMS, Fincantieri, Hanwha Ocean, and Navantia. While the formal signing is forthcoming, Poland intends to acquire three submarines in a deal projected to surpass 10 billion złoty ($2.52 billion).
Saab’s A26 Blekinge-class submarine is a 65-meter-long, 2,000-tonne platform operated by a 26-member crew, with additional accommodation for special operations forces. The submarine’s Stirling air-independent propulsion system provides more than 18 days of submerged endurance, giving Polish forces a significant advantage in stealth operations within the heavily monitored Baltic Sea, where silent endurance is a critical combat factor.
Designed for multi-domain maritime missions, the A26 features capabilities spanning ISR, unmanned system deployment, minelaying, anti-surface warfare, and anti-submarine operations. Its ultra-quiet acoustic signature makes it exceptionally difficult to detect, even in sonar-saturated waters, enhancing Poland’s ability to conduct covert intelligence-gathering and maintain undersea deterrence.
The submarine’s armament includes precision torpedoes and long-range strike missiles capable of engaging subsurface, surface, and land-based targets. Complementing these offensive capabilities, the A26 integrates cutting-edge soft-kill and electronic warfare systems that can disrupt hostile radar, sonar, and communications. With this selection, Poland is set to acquire one of Europe’s most modern and stealth-optimized submarine classes, strengthening its NATO-aligned maritime defense posture.
