The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration and Saab have signed a new contract for the delivery of the two A26 submarines. The updated agreement means that deliveries are postponed to 2031 and 2033, while the total contract amount increases to approximately 25 billion Swedish kronor.
According to FMV's press release, measures are also included to strengthen supply security within the submarine sector. The contract includes a fixed ceiling price, which according to FMV is possible because technical and economic risks are now assessed to be lower than earlier in the project.
– Developing and building an entirely new class of submarines is a very complex project and associated with economic and technical risks. The construction of the submarines has now progressed to such an extent that these risks are at a significantly lower level. This allows FMV and Saab to agree on new delivery times and a fixed ceiling price, says Fredrik Lindén, head of the naval materiel division at FMV, in the press release.
The two submarines were originally ordered in 2015. A previously updated contract from 2021 set deliveries for 2027 and 2028, with a contract amount of approximately 14 billion kronor.
In a press release from Saab, it is stated that the company has now received an additional order from FMV worth approximately 9.6 billion kronor. The order covers the final phase of production as well as an expanded commitment for materials and services for both submarines. The majority of deliveries will take place between 2026 and 2032.
– Saab is currently building the world's most advanced conventional submarines for Sweden. Thanks to excellent cooperation between Saab and FMV, we have ensured that Sweden has a state-of-the-art underwater capability that will help us continue to keep our waters safe for several decades to come, says Micael Johansson, President and CEO of Saab, in the press release.
FMV emphasises that underwater capability is a vital security interest (VSI) identified by both the government and parliament. The A26 project is conducted in parallel with the modification of the Swedish Armed Forces' four existing submarines in the Gotland class, which according to FMV ensures that the Armed Forces maintain submarine capability over time.
– It has been a challenging process to regain Swedish expertise in the underwater sector. Through the modification work of the Gotland class, we ensure that the Armed Forces have the necessary submarine capability until the new submarines are ready, says Fredrik Lindén in FMV's press release.