Swedish navy moves to final phase of Blekinge-class sub production with new Saab order
The two A26 Blekinge-class submarines are now expected to be delivered between 2031 and 2033. (Photo: Saab)
Saab Kockums was initially awarded the contract to build two A26 submarines for the Royal Swedish Navy in 2015, but the programme has faced delays and escalating costs.
The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) has placed an order with Saab for the last phase of production on its development of two Blekinge-class (A26) submarines.
While the initial contract for the submarine pair, which will be named HSwMS Blekinge and HSwMS Skåne, was worth SEK7.6 billion (US$872m), a further contract in 2021 took the cost to approximately SEK14.0 billion. This latest update is valued at SEK9.6 billion.
The order announced on 13 October also includes additional scope for material and services for the diesel-electric ships (SSKs), with the majority of deliveries expected to take place
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
More from Naval Warfare
-
![US Navy SPY-6 approaches FRP with Raytheon already having “a hot production line”]()
US Navy SPY-6 approaches FRP with Raytheon already having “a hot production line”
Jen Gauthier, Raytheon’s VP of Naval Systems and Sustainment, told Shephard that the company is awaiting the US Navy’s green light to move “fully into full-rate production”.
-
![Ireland releases maritime strategy as it looks to new naval bases and stronger partnerships]()
Ireland releases maritime strategy as it looks to new naval bases and stronger partnerships
Ireland has a maritime area ten times the size of its land mass but has a limited naval capacity and faces an ongoing threat to critical underwater infrastructure. A new strategy is looking to address the challenge.
-
![How the Golden Fleet will change the US Navy acquisition process]()
How the Golden Fleet will change the US Navy acquisition process
The procurement of the future USN Golden Fleet is planned to be less bureaucratic than previous strategies, involving AI-enabled designs and scheduling tools to increase productivity and avoid delays.
-
![Australia signs US$2.8 billion ship deal with Austal but puts pressure on company to deliver]()
Australia signs US$2.8 billion ship deal with Austal but puts pressure on company to deliver
The A$4 billion Landing Craft Heavy contract for Austal follows on from a A$1 billion deal in December for Landing Craft Medium ships, but the Australian government has made it clear that a contract for Mogami frigates is reliant on the success of these two contracts.
-
![US Navy to deploy UAVs with standard munitions in long-range strikes]()
US Navy to deploy UAVs with standard munitions in long-range strikes
As part of the Runway Independent Maritime & Expeditionary Strike programme, the US Navy is pursuing drones capable of delivering palletised rounds or 1,000lb-class munitions.
