Sweden is updating its submarine fleet. Yesterday, on August 27, the press service of Saab announced the signing of a contract with the Swedish Ministry of Defense for the construction of two modernized A26 Blekinge submarines.
"Saab is building the world's most advanced submarine with conventional weapons. The new capabilities that should be added to the A26 will give an additional advantage in the weapons system and invisibility technology, " said Mikael Johansson, president and Chief Executive Officer of Saab.
A26 Blekinge Type submarine render
Image source: saab.com
Saab calls the A26 Blekinge submarines the most modern in the world. The first pair of submarines was ordered in 2015 and should enter service in the coming years. The second pair of submarines is planned to be modernized, which will make them even more advanced. It is planned that the new submarines will be transferred to the fleet in 2027 and 2028, respectively. The cost of their construction is 5.2 billion Swedish crowns ($600 million).
Earlier, Saab upgraded the world's first submarine, HSwMS Gotland, equipped with an anaerobic propulsion system. Then it was reported that during the repair work on Gotland, more than twenty new systems were installed, which they plan to use in the construction of the next-generation A26 submarines. In addition, in 2017, Saab presented a project based on a type A26 submarine equipped with vertical launchers for Tomahawk missiles. It is not yet reported whether the new A26 Blekinge of the Swedish Navy will be equipped with American cruise missiles.
In the standard version, the A26 is a modular submarine with a displacement of 1,900 tons. The main purpose is to conduct operations in coastal waters. The length of the submarine is 63 m, the number of crew will be from 17 to 26 people. The air-independent Stirling engine allows the crew to perform combat missions without surfacing for up to twenty days. The module with installations for cruise missiles will add 10 m of length to the submarine and about 400-500 tons of mass.
