Drawing on Saab’s legacy in Baltic Sea stealth, the A26 will feature advanced signature management technologies to make it one of the hardest submarines to detect globally. Its low acoustic, magnetic, electric and radar signatures will be achieved through a combination of degaussing systems, hydrodynamic design, special coatings, and Saab’s patented Stirling-AIP system.
The submarine will be capable of strategic seabed warfare through the deployment of unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs), special forces, and seabed ISR systems. It will also have the unique ability to rest on the seabed—thanks to its strong hull structure, the absence of external tanks, and an X-rudder configuration—allowing it to evade anti-submarine detection while maintaining high manoeuvrability.
Armed with long-range precision torpedoes and designed for the potential integration of submarine-launched missiles, the A26 will allow commanders to engage targets at sea and on land. This will provide a multi-domain strike capability, giving naval forces greater flexibility and reach.
Electronic support functions on the A26 will include passive detection and classification of enemy signals, enhancing the effectiveness of both kinetic operations and broader MDO objectives. The submarine will also contribute to what the Swedish navy refers to as “underwater information warfare” by intercepting and exploiting enemy communications and electronic signals, and potentially disrupting undersea cables and transmissions.
“Submarines are capable of making significant contributions to MDO through their freedom of movement, stealth, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities,” Saab states. The A26 will build on this foundation by delivering additional advantages that improve coordination and decision-making across NATO forces.
With extended endurance and the capacity to operate covertly in strategic locations, the A26 will enable long-term presence at sea. Its interoperability and secure data-sharing capabilities will support joint operations, improving situational awareness and mission planning across other operational domains.
Designed to operate at speed and scale, the A26 will support the integrated and decentralised approach required to gain an edge against peer or near-peer adversaries. Its launch marks a step forward in submarine technology and the future role of underwater platforms in multi-domain warfare.
Source: Saab.
