Saab received an order for three A26 submarines from Poland, at a cost of $4.84 billion, including weapons and support, with the final deliveries set for 2038.
Poland has chosen the A26 submarine developed by Sweden’s Saab as its first-ever modern submarine class. The three submarines will take the place of the placeholding HSwMS Södermanland submarine also provided by Sweden, due to the technical problems with the Ex-Soviet Kilo-class submarine ORP Orzel.
A26 can be described as a huge leap for the Polish Navy, considering it is a fresh design introducing improved low observability, new-generation weaponry, and a flexible bay for various utilities.
A26 has a dry displacement of 2000 tonnes and is powered by a Stirling-type AIP system, allowing a speed of 20 km/h underwater. The submarine can operate for up to 45 days underwater with the inclusion of AIP use. Unlike other submarines uniformly using 533 mm torpedo tubes, A26’s weaponry is split into four 533 mm tubes and two 400 mm tubes for the exotic Torpedo 47 lightweight torpedoes, which stand out from other lightweight torpedoes with a fibre-optic cable for guidance. Additionally, naval mines and UUVs can be carried.
Author: Kaan Azman
Editor: Özgür Ekşi
