What does Saab’s operations shake-up mean for its new ‘Naval’ chapter?
Saab Kockums was awarded the contract to develop two A26 submarines for the Royal Swedish Navy in 2015, but the programme has encountered delays and rising costs. (Photo: Saab)
Saab’s merger of its Kockums and Naval Combat Systems divisions into a single business area called Naval, effective 1 April 2026, aims to enhance efficiency, innovation and competitive positioning in the naval sector.
Saab, the Swedish aerospace and defence company, announced that it would consolidate its naval operations into a single business area called Naval, effective 1 April 2026.
The restructuring merges business area Kockums – responsible for surface vessels, submarines and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) – with the majority of the Naval Combat Systems unit. Naval Combat Systems develops and produces combat management systems (CMS), fire control systems and secure communications solutions.
Mats Wicksell, currently head of Kockums, will lead the new business area.
This development raises the question of what it signals about Saab’s competitive positioning. As William Lupton, naval analyst
Our news & analysis is now part of Defence Insight®
A Basic-level or higher Defence Insight subscription is now required to view this content.
More from Naval Warfare
-
![SOF Week 2026: US Navy USV completes record eight-day autonomous mission]()
SOF Week 2026: US Navy USV completes record eight-day autonomous mission
The MARTAC T38 Devil Ray USV has set a new endurance benchmark as the US Navy pushes deeper into autonomous maritime warfare.
-
![SAHA 2026: Turkey markets modular undersea systems to European buyers]()
SAHA 2026: Turkey markets modular undersea systems to European buyers
Turkey’s defence industry is pushing a class of platform and building an entire philosophy of cost-imposition around it.
-
![STM’s European wins strengthen Turkey’s naval credibility on the continent]()
STM’s European wins strengthen Turkey’s naval credibility on the continent
Turkish defence and engineering company STM is attempting to challenge Europe’s established naval primes by winning contracts from Portugal to Pakistan – with a business model built on working in any shipyard in the world.
