Gotland-class submarine HMS Uppland paid a visit to the port of Gdynia during Sweden’s State Visit to Poland as the nations progress their naval cooperation.
At the end of 2025, Poland announced it had chosen Saab A26 Blekinge-class submarines for its upcoming submarine programme. It intends to purchase three new submarines, and lease a fourth Swedish boat to maintain its submarine capability while the new submarines are built.
Earlier this month during Sweden’s State Visit the Polish naval port of Gdynia played host to a delegation including the Royal Swedish Navy’s Commander and its Commander of the Submarine Fleet, as well as Swedish Minister of Defence Pål Jonson.
They boarded visiting Swedish submarine HMS Uppland alongside Polish Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz to discuss next steps in their collaborative programme.
As per a Swedish Government press statement, negotiations have begun over leasing Swedish boat HMS Södermanland, a precursor to the Gotland-class subs, a deal anticipated to come to fruition during 2027.
The boat will initially be crewed by mostly Swedish sailors, who will be replaced by their Polish counterparts as the training programme progresses.
The submarine deal is part of a wider strategic partnership between the two nations signed in November 2024 focusing on joint defence, economic innovation, strengthening security in the Baltic and supporting Ukraine.
Poland is expected to receive its first Blekinge-class submarine in about 2031, with formal contract negotiations anticipated to be concluded imminently. The three-submarine deal has an estimated value of about PLN 10 billion (circa £2 billion).
Mr Jonson commented: “Poland and Sweden share a clear understanding of the challenges and threats facing our region, in particular the long-term threat posed by Russia. We are therefore in a unique position to work together to strengthen the region’s security and deter Russia’s aggressive behaviour.”
And Mr Kosiniak-Kamysz added: “We have a great future ahead of us with Sweden. We will develop all these capabilities and skills. We will jointly invest in the arms industry and build a new security architecture in the Baltic Sea.”
- You can read more details on the Swedish Government website and the Polish Government website