The two submarines were initially ordered in 2015, with a contract update in 2021 introducing new capabilities and adjusting delivery to 2027 and 2028. The latest renegotiation reflects the complexity of the project and aligns with progress in construction, which has significantly reduced the technical and financial risks.
“Saab is currently building the world’s most advanced conventional submarines for Sweden,” said Micael Johansson, President and CEO of Saab. He continued, “Following excellent cooperation between Saab and FMV we have ensured that Sweden has a state-of-the-art underwater capability which will contribute to keeping our nation’s waters safe for decades to come.”
Fredrik Lindén, Head of Naval Materiel at FMV, noted the significance of the agreement at this stage of the programme. “Att ta fram och bygga en helt ny ubåtsklass är ett väldigt komplext projekt och förenat med ekonomiska och tekniska risker. Tillverkningen av ubåtarna har nu kommit så pass långt att dessa risker är på en betydligt lägre nivå. Det gör att FMV och Saab nu är överens om nya tidpunkter för leveranser och ett fast takpris,” said Lindén.
The A26 construction has been carried out in parallel with major upgrades to the Swedish Armed Forces’ existing fleet of four submarines, which have been life-extended to maintain operational capability. “Det har varit en utmanande process att återta den svenska kompetensen inom undervattensområdet. Genom modifieringsarbetet av Gotlandsklassen så säkrar vi att Försvarsmakten har nödvändig ubåtsförmåga till dess de nya ubåtarna är klara,” said Lindén.
Sweden’s underwater defence capability has been identified by the government and parliament as a vital national security interest. The A26 programme and the refurbishment of the Gotland-class submarines at Saab’s shipyard in Karlskrona form part of a wider effort to rebuild and secure this strategic competence.
