Polish crews to start training in Sweden this summer

At the end of November 2025, the Polish government chose the Swedish Saab Kockums as the supplier of three A26-type submarines for the Polish Navy under the ORKA programme. During a December meeting between Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz and his Swedish counterpart Pål Jonson, an agreement was signed specifying details regarding the number of units, weapons acquisition, delivery schedule, industrial cooperation, and interim solutions.

The programme’s value is estimated at approximately 26 billion Swedish krona (approx. $2.4 billion USD). However, the economic aspect is not the only factor; the transaction also has a clear political-defence dimension as Stockholm sees the A26 export as a tool for building a lasting military alliance and influence in the Baltic Sea.

HMS Södermanland as a bridge solution

Before the new submarines enter service, Poland is to acquire an older unit through a lease to maintain training continuity and underwater operations. The choice fell on HMS Södermanland, the oldest Swedish submarine still in service, dating from the late 1980s.

While its service-entry date indicates it is not a modern unit, it remains valuable for training, which meets the primary objective of the interim solution. Södermanland is 60.5 metres long with a submerged displacement of approximately 1,500 tonnes, and a crew of 28. It is a vessel tailored for the Baltic Sea.

The transfer to Poland is planned for around 2027, and the ship is expected to remain in service until the first A26 is commissioned. For Poland, this represents a clear step forward for the Polish fleet, whose only active submarine remains ORP Orzeł (Kilo-class).

Training in Karlskrona

The Swedish Armed Forces (Försvarsmakten) confirmed on 2 June that training for Polish crews will begin in August 2026 at the Karlskrona naval base, where the 1st Submarine Flotilla (Första ubåtsflottiljen) is stationed. The Naval Warfare Centre (Sjöstridsskolan) is responsible for preparing the submariners and already has experience in training foreign crews.

Technical personnel will be the first to start. The Swedish side emphasises that building maintenance, logistics, and sustainment competencies is just as important as preparing future commanders and crews — the training will include engineers, maintenance specialists, and experts in ship systems, safety, and submarine rescue. There is a reason it begins with technology and so far in advance: as the Swedes point out, the transition from the ageing Kilo-class design to the modern A26 is a massive technological leap.

”This is an extremely exciting project with a very short preparation time. The training will become the foundation for future exchange of experiences and the development of submarine force capabilities in our region,” said Lieutenant Commander Joakim Sjöström, who leads the project for training Polish crews.

New A26 units still several years away

The target A26 units, however, are still a thing of the future. The Blekinge and Skåne submarines, currently being built in Karlskrona for the Swedish Navy, are significantly delayed, with deliveries scheduled for 2031–2033. These designs are focused on blue-water operations while maintaining high capabilities in the shallow Baltic, featuring a modular architecture that facilitates adaptation to future weapon systems and sensors.

In this light, the role of Södermanland is clear. The ship is intended to ensure that by the time the new units enter service, Polish crews will already be prepared to operate them, which in turn shortens the path to full operational readiness.