New submarines for the Polish Navy will have four torpedo launchers, air-independent propulsion (AIP), and, ultimately, offer a possibility to be retrofitted with cruise missile launchers.

Generations of sailors had been waiting for this decision. At the end of November 2025, the Polish government announced that it would procure three submarines as part of the Orka program. The vessels are to be built by Sweden. As Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense, explained, the Swedish offer proved to be the best in terms of price, delivery time, but also operational capabilities of the submarines. On top of that, Sweden promised many additional benefits, one of which involves the transfer of know-how to Polish shipbuilders. This will enable them to independently repair and service the vessels in the future. Sweden will also purchase Polish armament. Recently, a contract has been signed for a substantial batch of Piorun portable anti-aircraft missile systems, and now the Swedes are ready to talk about a ship similar to the one Poland will build for itself as part of the Ratownik program.

There is more. Recently, Poland has been strengthening its ties with the Nordic states. We share a common interest, with the Baltic Sea playing the key role. The stability of our economies depends on the security of the Baltic shipping routes and critical surface and underwater infrastructure. On top of that, we have a common adversary – the Russian Federation. “The decision to purchase new submarines and the selection of a partner from the Kingdom of Sweden is a step towards building a new security architecture in the Baltic Sea,” emphasized Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz during the Navy Day ceremonies in Świnoujście.

First, the Gap-Filler

Apart from common interests, experience is also important. Sweden is considered a regional power in the maritime domain and the strength of its navy is based mainly on the capabilities of domestic defense industry. Submarines are a perfect example of this, as the Saab Kockums shipyard in Karlskrona has been building such vessels since 1914. Currently, it is working on two A26 Blekinge-class vessels, ordered by the Swedish Navy. These are the submarines that are to be delivered to Poland. When? According to Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, the first vessel may be transferred already in 2030. It would be possible if the Swedes, colloquially speaking, let us cut in line. Although negotiations that precede the signing of the contract between the two governments are still ongoing, the head of the Polish Ministry of National Defense is optimistic. In response to our question, he pointed out that the delivery date for the vessels ordered by Sweden has recently been postponed. “I think this might mean space is being made for faster delivery of vessels to Poland. We have very clearly indicated the year 2030. And although in such cases nothing is ever certain, the declarations made by the Swedish side were very firm,” he assured us.

However, before the white and red flag is hoisted on the first contracted ship, Polish seamen will receive a gap-filler – a temporary vessel that will be incorporated into our navy and serve as a training ship. This point of the preliminary contract between the parties will likely be implemented very quickly.

Polish submarine crews should start their training in Sweden already in 2026. The vessel itself is to be delivered in 2027. As pointed out by Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, the transfer will coincide with the 400th anniversary of the 1627 Battle of Oliwa – the first major clash of the Polish fleet, so it will be a symbolic event for all seafarers. What is interesting, that first major battle was victorious, and fought against Sweden.

It is still unknown what ship Poland will receive as the gap-filler. It could be either the A17 or the A19, both in service in the Swedish Navy, with the A17 being a more likely option.

A Milestone Step

Meanwhile, it is important to answer the fundamental question – what can we expect from Orka? “Working on a new design, we always draw from our previous achievements to maintain continuity. However, we have to keep in mind that every vessel is tailored to the needs and requirements of the customer, and to the body of water in which it will operate,” said in spring Per-Ola Hedin, chief engineer of the A26 project at the Saab Kockums shipyard.

According to the producer, the A26 is tailored for the Baltic Sea – it is a closed and relatively shallow body of water, but its hydrology is favorable for underwater operations. This, however, does not mean that the vessel cannot operate somewhere else. This capability is important to Poland as a NATO member, since the interests of the Alliance stretch far beyond the Baltic Sea. The Swedish submarine is built using GHOST (Genuine Holistic Stealth) technology. The hull is covered with a sound-absorbing coating and special paint, which will make the vessel difficult to detect by anti-submarine warfare (ASW) units – frigates, corvettes, specialized helicopters and aircraft. Another feature of the A26 is air-independent propulsion, which will prolong the underwater operation time – the vessel will not have to surface to recharge its batteries. This solution is particularly important in a body of water as small and crowded as the Baltic Sea. In such conditions, the longer a submarine remains invisible to the potential adversary, the better.

The A26 submarines will be fitted with four torpedo launchers and a special lock system that will enable divers and underwater vehicles to operate from their decks. This feature seems particularly valuable in the context of the special operations forces. Another advantage of the Swedish vessels is their modular design, which gives the submarines what sailors call modernization potential. If necessary, the A26 can be retrofitted with additional cruise missile launchers, among other things.

The details of the Polish order are being specified during ongoing negotiations. The final agreement between the governments should be signed by the end of 2025, and the executive contract in the second quarter of 2026, at the latest. One thing is certain – our country has just taken a milestone step in the process of strengthening the Polish Navy.