Poland has announced that it has chosen Sweden as a partner for its submarine programme ORKA. The decision means that Poland intends to acquire three Swedish A26 submarines, which will become one of Sweden's largest naval export deals. The Polish government highlights that Sweden presented the best offer and that an intergovernmental agreement is to be signed later this year.
According to Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Poland has chosen Sweden as a partner for its submarine programme.
– Poland has chosen Sweden as a partner for its submarine programme, he writes. This is a strength not only for the cooperation between our countries but for the whole of Sweden as a defence industry nation. […] Poland and Sweden share a deep understanding of the challenges to European security.
He describes the decision as a step towards deepened political, military, and industrial cooperation between the countries.
Defence Minister Pål Jonson also comments on the announcement in his own post on X.
– Today is a historic day for the Swedish-Polish partnership and for increased security in the Baltic Sea, he writes, emphasising that this strengthens the joint defence and the defence industrial base.
Saab states that no contract has yet been signed, but that the process is now moving forward with continued negotiations together with the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) and Polish representatives.
– We are honoured to have been chosen and look forward to the upcoming negotiations. The Swedish offer with submarines specifically designed for the conditions in the Baltic Sea is the right choice for Poland, says Micael Johansson, President and CEO of Saab.
In a series of posts from the Polish Ministry of Defence on X, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz describes the background to the decision and the next steps in the process.
According to the minister, ORKA has been eagerly awaited within the Polish Navy, and the government has now formally chosen the partner country. An intergovernmental agreement is to be signed later this year. In a later post, Kosiniak-Kamysz emphasises that the programme has been a priority since the current government took office and that Poland intends to purchase three submarines.
The Ministry further writes that the ORKA team recommended Sweden as the first choice, something described as part of the work to build a new security architecture in the Baltic Sea. The government notes that the Swedish offer was assessed to be the strongest based on all criteria, and the goal is to complete a government-to-government agreement before the end of the year.
In another post, it is revealed that Poland wants to start training its crews in Sweden as early as next year. A temporary submarine, a so-called gap filler, is to be operational by 2027 to ensure that competence is built up while production is ongoing. The Ministry also highlights that ORKA is not only about new submarines but also about strengthening the Polish industry's technical capabilities. The final cost will be determined once an implementation agreement is signed.