Saab Signs $1.04 Billion Deal For New Swedish Submarines

Saab has won a $1.04 billion contract from Sweden’s military to construct two new Type A26 submarines and for mid-life upgrade of two Gotland-class submarines.

Saab announced today that the two new Type-26 submarines will be delivered in 2022 and 2024; meanwhile the upgraded Gotland-class submarines will be delivered in late 2018 and late 2019.

Gunilla Fransson, head of Saab business area Security and Defence Solutions said that the A26 is a high-tech submarine with long-endurance submerged performance and excellent manoeuvrability in all waters.  It will be highly survivable because modern underwater stealth technology and a unique heritage of shock resistant design.

The 26 submarines will be powered by conventional diesel-electric propulsion machinery and equipped with the Kockums Stirling Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) system, making them difficult to detect.

In April, the Swedish government announced plans to raise defence spending by $1.18 billion for 2016-2020, mostly to modernise ships to detect and intercept submarines, amid increasing Russian military activity in the Baltic Sea region.

Sweden is a non-NATO country with a longstanding tradition of military non-alliance.