Sweden Signs Lease of Submarine Södermanland to Poland as Bridge to Its A26 Boats
Sweden's Defence Materiel Administration and the Swedish Armed Forces have signed contracts under Poland's Orka program to train Polish submarine crews and lease the AIP-equipped submarine HMS Södermanland to the Polish Navy until 2032, the Swedish Navy announced on October 12.
The Swedish Navy announced on October 12 that Sweden's Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) and the Swedish Armed Forces had signed the implementation contracts under Poland's Orka submarine program, covering the training of Polish submarine crews and the lease of the submarine HMS Södermanland to the Polish Navy, Defence24 and Naval News reported on October 13. The lease runs until 2032, according to a Swedish government press release of June 29, and is intended to give Polish crews hands-on experience with an air-independent propulsion (AIP) submarine before Poland's new A26 boats arrive.
Training of the first Polish crews is already under way at Karlskrona, run by the Swedish Navy's 1st Submarine Flotilla and its Naval Warfare Centre with FMV support, Naval News reported. "The training lasts for 18 months, which is the same training length as for a Swedish submarine crew," the Swedish Navy said in a statement quoted by Naval News. The Swedish government said in June that crew training had been brought forward to start in August and that the Swedish Navy regards the program as its largest submarine training and support effort ever.
Södermanland was built as a Västergötland-class boat in the late 1980s. A mid-life upgrade lengthened the hull and added a Stirling AIP system, and the boat is now designated A17, according to Naval News. The Swedish Navy will keep providing maintenance and sustainment support for the submarine during the lease, Naval News reported. No handover date has been announced. The temporary transfer will not reduce Sweden's own defense capability, Sweden said, according to Defence24.
The contracts implement the agreement announced on June 29, when Sweden and Poland said Poland would acquire three Saab A26 submarines after finalizing negotiations, a deal launched alongside a "Baltic Sea Pact," according to the Swedish government. Sweden will support Poland's new submarine program from about 2027 to 2038, including Polish participation in Swedish trials of the A26 boats HMS Blekinge and HMS Skåne, the Swedish government said. The first A26 delivery to Poland is planned for 2031, Naval News reported, while Defence24 gives a delivery window running from 2031 to 2038. The Orka framework also includes heavy and light torpedo packages and possible cooperation with Poland's Ratownik submarine rescue ship program, according to Naval News.
In GlobalMilitary.net's data, Poland's navy currently operates a single active submarine, ORP Orzeł (291), a Kilo-class boat commissioned in 1986, with Södermanland and three A26 Blekinge-class boats listed as on order. Sweden's navy has four active submarines in GMN's data: the three Gotland-class boats Gotland, Uppland and Halland, plus Södermanland, with two A26 boats, Blekinge and Skåne, on order. On those figures, the lease would leave the Swedish Navy with its three Gotland-class boats until its own A26 submarines enter service. The wider fleets are set side by side in a comparison of Poland's and Sweden's navies.
The 18-month training of the first Polish crews continues at Karlskrona, and the date of Södermanland's transfer to the Polish Navy remains to be announced. The lease runs to 2032, overlapping with the first A26 delivery to Poland planned for 2031.
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