Tomczyk visited the shipyard in Karlskrona on Thursday, where he saw work under way on the submarine’s hull, made from a specially developed, patented metal alloy.
Preparations for the construction of other sections are also in progress, he said.
A group of Polish sailors began specialist training in Sweden on 1 October, following a preparatory course that started in mid-August.
They are learning aboard a Swedish submarine that will be made available to the Polish Navy until the new vessels are ready.
The 18-month programme allows the sailors to bring their families.
Tomczyk praised the crew for maintaining Poland’s submarine-operating capability.
Without them, he said, there would be no personnel available to train for the new vessels.
He added that their Swedish counterparts held them in high regard.
Asked whether defence ties could be affected if Sweden’s government changed following the 13 September election, Tomczyk said the partnership would continue regardless of who came to power.
"Close cooperation is in the interest of both countries," he said, adding that the submarine deal had opened a "completely new chapter" in bilateral relations and was "only the beginning."
He said the partnership also involved USD 100 million in Swedish investment in Poland for joint innovation projects, as well as funding for Poland’s defence sector.
Sweden’s armed forces are also placing orders with Polish companies, he added.
On Thursday, Tomczyk also attended a cyber-security conference, Sharing Cyber, at the Polish embassy in Stockholm.
The event brought together several dozen representatives from the military, academia and the IT sector in both countries.
Tomczyk said Poland had made significant progress in cyber-security, but that NATO still lacked sufficient coordination in the field, making bilateral cooperation crucial.
The country records thousands of cyber-attacks every year, including about 7,000 serious incidents, he said.
During the visit, he also met his Swedish counterpart, Peter Sandwall.
Poland signed a contract in June for three A26-class submarines, to be built by Saab Kockums at Karlskrona, under its Orka programme.
(ał)
Source: PAP