Under the agreement, which is due to be signed in the Baltic port city of Gdynia on June 29, Poland will purchase three Swedish A26 Blekinge-class submarines, Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said on Monday.
He described it as "a contract awaited for 30 years" that had been promised by all of his predecessors.
Speaking at a press conference in Madrid, Kosiniak-Kamysz said the signing would formalize commitments between both governments and the companies involved.
"On June 29, in Gdynia, we will sign the deal—not only between the governments, but also between companies, on fulfilling obligations to Poland: delivering three submarines, a vessel for the transitional period—a gap filler—crew training, and also the sale of our vessels, such as the Ratownik-type ship, to the Swedish navy," he said.
Sweden was selected last year as Poland's partner under the Orka submarine acquisition program, beating out offers from Italy, France, Spain, Germany and South Korea.
The deal covers three submarines built by Saab-Kockums, the first of which is expected to be delivered to Poland by 2030, though the program has faced delays—Sweden's own first A26 vessels are not expected until 2027–2028.
Under the agreement, Poland will also receive a gap-filler vessel—an A17-class submarine—next year to bridge the capability gap until the new subs arrive.
That gap is acute. Poland's only operational submarine, ORP Orzeł, was built in the Soviet Union in 1985 and has required repeated repairs in recent years.
Its potential decommissioning would leave Polish submariners with no vessel on which to train or maintain their skills.
The A26 submarines feature a modular design, diesel-electric propulsion and an air-independent propulsion system for extended underwater endurance.
Their armament includes 533mm torpedo tubes and a dock capable of deploying unmanned underwater vehicles or covertly inserting special operations forces.
Kosiniak-Kamysz discussed the deal last week with Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson on the sidelines of a NATO defense ministers meeting in Brussels.
(jh/gs)
Source: PAP