Philip Smart | Adelaide
Saab will build two new A26 submarines and upgrade two existing Gotland-class submarines under an initial $1.36 billion order from the Swedish government.
The A26 submarines will be built at Saab’s shipyard in Karlskrona. Deliveries will start in 2022 and be finalised in 2024.
The A26 is a 62-metre design with a surfaced displacement of around 1800 tonnes, powered by conventional diesel-electric propulsion machinery and a Kockums Stirling AIP (air-independent propulsion) system. It has a standard crew of 26.
Saab makes much of the design’s endurance, manoeuvrability and stealth, including unprecedented ability to survive underwater explosions. It also includes a “flexible payload lock” system designed to allow submerged operation of special forces and unmanned underwater vehicles.
The A26 is a modular design, which Saab says will make through-life upgrades and adaptations more efficient, for lower overall cost.
“The A26 will be a unique and high-tech submarine with proven modular design, which gives the platform a high level of availability at a low life-cycle cost,” said Gunilla Fransson, head of Saab business area Security and Defence Solutions. “The submarine will have long-endurance submerged performance and excellent manoeuvrability in all waters. Safety is paramount and A26 will be highly survivable thanks to modern underwater stealth technology and a unique heritage of shock resistant design.”
Karlskrona will also upgrade the existing Gotland-class submarines, Gotland and Upland, in a program that will begin by cutting them in half. The upgraded submarines will have new combat systems and a new Stirling AIP system. Their traditional periscopes will be replaced with a mast with cameras and various sensors.
The two upgraded Gotland-class submarines will be delivered in late 2018 and late 2019, respectively.