Swedish defence giant Saab will implement a parallel production strategy across multiple plants to meet the delivery schedule for three A-26 submarines ordered by Poland. CEO Micael Johansson confirmed the plan, aiming to deliver the first vessel by the targeted date of 2030, a timeline some analysts consider ambitious.
In a major move to secure the Baltic Sea, Poland made a multi-billion dollar bet last November, selecting Saab as its partner for a new submarine fleet. This deal is a cornerstone of Warsaw’s military modernization, but it comes with a pressing deadline: the first of the three advanced A-26 submarines must be delivered by 2030. Recognizing the challenge, Saab’s leadership has unveiled an aggressive industrial strategy to turn that promise into reality.
Speaking to Reuters on the sidelines of a security conference in Northern Sweden, Micael Johansson laid out the plan. “We will absolutely parallelize production to increase capacity,” the CEO stated. This means that sections of the new submarines will no longer be built solely at Saab’s primary shipyard in Karlskrona. Instead, production will be spread across multiple manufacturing sites. Johansson specifically mentioned that parts would also be manufactured at the company’s plant in Landskrona, effectively creating a networked production line to boost output and mitigate bottlenecks.
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This parallel approach extends beyond construction. Johansson emphasized that the partnership with Poland includes a significant industrial cooperation component. Maintenance, upgrades, and annual controls for the submarines will be conducted at a shipyard in Poland itself. “We will have two assets for that, one on the Swedish and one on the Polish side,” he told Reuters. This dual-support structure not only meets Poland’s desire for technology transfer and local industrial involvement but also ensures long-term operational sovereignty and potentially faster turnaround times for the Polish Navy.
The A-26 submarine, also known as the Blekinge-class in Swedish service, is one of the most modern conventional submarines in the world, featuring advanced stealth technology, air-independent propulsion (AIP) for long underwater endurance, and versatile payload capabilities. Producing such complex vessels on a tight schedule is a monumental task, which is why Saab’s decision to parallelize is critical. It reflects a shift from a linear, single-yard production model to a more resilient, distributed manufacturing network.
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For Poland, securing this capability is a strategic imperative. The Baltic Sea region has become an area of heightened tension, and modern submarines are seen as key assets for sea denial, intelligence gathering, and deterrence. By investing in Saab’s A-26, Poland is not just buying submarines; it is acquiring a long-term strategic partnership with one of Europe’s leading defence contractors and building domestic maintenance expertise. Saab’s multi-plant production push demonstrates its commitment to fulfilling this crucial contract on time, ensuring that Poland’s naval defences are strengthened by the start of the next decade.
