Sweden Formalizes Interim Submarine Training and Södermanland Lease for Poland

Sweden and Poland have finalized formal implementation contracts under Poland’s Orka submarine program. The agreements cover two immediate needs: training Polish submarine crews and leasing the interim submarine HMS Södermanland. They build on the earlier framework for procuring three Saab A26, or Blekinge-class, submarines.

The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration and Swedish Navy signed the contracts. Swedish naval personnel and the Naval Warfare Centre are already training Poland’s first crews in Karlskrona, with support from FMV. The training lasts 18 months, matching the standard Swedish submarine-crew course.

The lease gives Poland an operational submarine before A26 deliveries begin. During the lease, Swedish personnel will continue foundational maintenance and sustainment support. The arrangement also supports wider cooperation involving torpedoes, submarine rescue, and underwater operations in the Baltic Sea.

HMS Södermanland is an interim Swedish submarine for Poland. It was originally built as a Västergötland-class boat in the late 1980s, then received a major mid-life upgrade. It is now described as an A17-class vessel with a lengthened hull and an air-independent Stirling propulsion system.

The lease gives Polish sailors hands-on experience with a modern Swedish-built AIP submarine. That experience matters because Poland is preparing to operate Saab A26 submarines, whose first deliveries are scheduled for 2031. The boat turns classroom training into operational practice.

Poland will operate the submarine while the Swedish Navy continues foundational maintenance and sustainment support. This creates a bridge between current training in Karlskrona and the future A26 fleet. It also deepens practical naval cooperation before the new boats arrive.

The planned submarine program includes three Saab A26, or Blekinge-class, submarines. This gives Poland a defined future fleet rather than a single replacement boat. The program also includes training, interim operations, weapons, and wider underwater cooperation.

The first Polish submarine crews are completing an 18-month course in Karlskrona. The Royal Swedish Navy’s 1st Submarine Flotilla and the Naval Warfare Centre provide the training, with support from the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration. The duration is the same as for a Swedish submarine crew.

The current arrangement links preparation with future delivery. Polish sailors train now, operate the leased HMS Södermanland, and build experience before the A26 submarines arrive. The article gives 2031 as the scheduled start for those deliveries, making the interim boat important during the transition.

The training and lease let Polish sailors move from formal instruction to real submarine operations. They can develop the skills needed to work as crews aboard a modern Swedish-built submarine, rather than waiting until the A26 boats are delivered.

The central mechanism is the combination of an 18-month Swedish training course and hands-on operation of HMS Södermanland. The submarine’s Stirling air-independent propulsion system gives crews experience with the technology used in advanced conventional submarines. Swedish support continues during the lease.

This preparation should help Poland establish operating routines before the first A26 deliveries scheduled for 2031. Polish sailors will gain experience in crew coordination, submarine handling, and sustaining an AIP boat. The arrangement also creates practical links with Swedish naval personnel and maintenance organizations.

Södermanland was originally built as a Västergötland-class submarine in the late 1980s. It did not remain in that original form. A comprehensive mid-life upgrade changed the vessel and prepared it for a new operational role.

The upgrade lengthened the hull and integrated an air-independent Stirling propulsion system. These changes converted the boat into an A17-class submarine and gave it the characteristics needed for modern Swedish-built submarine training. The upgraded vessel is now suitable for Poland’s interim lease.

Its importance is practical and historical within the program. A submarine from an earlier design generation now connects Poland’s current training with its future A26 fleet. Rather than waiting for new boats, Polish crews can learn on an upgraded platform. Sweden will also continue foundational maintenance and sustainment throughout the lease.

Air-independent propulsion, or AIP, is a system that lets a conventional submarine produce power underwater without regularly drawing atmospheric air. A Stirling system uses an external combustion engine and stored fuel to generate electricity quietly. It complements, rather than replaces, the submarine’s batteries and diesel engines.

The article identifies a Stirling AIP system in HMS Södermanland. Its value is that the submarine can remain submerged for longer periods without surfacing or using a snorkel as often. That can improve stealth and endurance, especially during surveillance or patrol missions.

For Poland, the system is also a training opportunity. Crews can operate a Swedish-built submarine with modern AIP before the first Saab A26 deliveries scheduled for 2031. The lease therefore provides both immediate operational experience and a practical bridge toward Poland’s future conventional submarine capability.

Submarines are only effective when trained crews, weapons, maintenance, and rescue support operate as one system. The article presents this as especially important for Poland and Sweden’s shared underwater cooperation in the Baltic. Specialized boats provide the platform, but people and support networks make it usable.

The agreements connect those parts. Polish crews receive 18 months of Swedish training and will operate HMS Södermanland. The wider Orka framework includes advanced heavy and light torpedoes. It also points toward possible cooperation with Poland’s Ratownik submarine rescue vessel program, while Sweden provides maintenance support during the lease.

This creates a broader capability than simply buying submarines. Poland can train crews, practice operating an AIP boat, prepare weapons, and strengthen rescue and sustainment links before the A26 deliveries scheduled for 2031. Sweden and Poland are therefore building a long-term underwater partnership for the Baltic.