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Saab A26 Submarine

Saab A26 Submarine

Manufacturer: Saab
Category: Submarines
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Power Diesel-electric + Stirling AIP
Stealth Low acoustic & magnetic signature, anechoic coating
Weapons Torpedoes, mines, modular payloads
Sensors Sonar arrays, optronic mast, CMS, ESM

Full Specifications

1. General Information

Name / Class	Saab A26 / Blekinge‑class
Country of Origin	Sweden
Type	Conventional diesel-electric submarine (SSK) with AIP
Manufacturer	Saab (Kockums)
Operators	(Planned) Swedish Navy; prospective export navies (e.g., selected by Poland 2025)
In Service	Planned for early 2030s (2031 and 2033) under latest contract
Status	Under production / pre‑delivery

2. Dimensions & Design

Length	~66.0 m – 66.1 m
Beam (Width)	~6.75 m
Draught / Draft	~6.0 m
Displacement (Surfaced)	~1,925–2,000 tonnes
Displacement (Submerged)	~2,100 tonnes
Hull Material	Reinforced pressure‑resistant steel (shock-resistant)
Crew	17–26 standard; up to ~35 with additional mission personnel / special-forces teams

3. Propulsion & Performance

Power Source	Diesel-electric + AIP (Stirling)
Engine / Reactor Type	Kockums Stirling AIP units (MkV V4‑275R) + diesel engines
Propulsion System	Single-shaft propeller drive via diesel-electric + AIP
Speed (Surfaced)	Moderate diesel-electric surfaced speed (specific not publicly emphasized)
Speed (Submerged)	Approx. 20 km/h (on AIP / submerged)
Range	Dependent on fuel / logistics; export variants offer extended range; baseline suited for littoral and regional patrols
Endurance	Up to ~45 days submerged (including ~18 days on AIP)
Operational Depth	Maximum Depth Specific depths not publicly disclosed
Test Depth	designed for Baltic littoral and coastal conditions
Maximum Depth	pressure‑resistant hull for mine‑resistance and seabed resting use

4. Armament

Torpedo Tubes	4×533 mm, 2×400 mm
Torpedoes / Missiles	Heavyweight Torpedo 62 (or 63 depending on variant), and Saab lightweight Torpedo 47 (SLWT) for close/submerged combat; capability for mines and modular payloads depending on role.
Cruise / Ballistic Missiles	Not in baseline A26 — export variants may support modular payloads, but no confirmed ballistic missile capability.
Mines	Supported (modular payload), for seabed warfare / mine-laying roles.
Decoys / Countermeasures	Likely included as part of standard submarine defensive suite (though specific public data limited)

5. Sensors & Electronics

Sonar System	Bow and flank sonar arrays
Radar	None (submerged operations)
Combat Management System	Saab 9LV CMS, integrating sensor, navigation, weapons and communication data — standard across A26 design.
Electronic Warfare System	Electronic support / passive signal detection for underwater ISR and information‑warfare tasks; supports data fusion and networked operations.
Communication Systems	Secure underwater and surface comms, data links for allied networked operations (e.g. NATO interoperability) — part of Saab’s system‑of‑systems concept.
Navigation Systems	Standard submarine navigation, inertial navigation, sonar‑aided navigation; modular upgradeable systems.

6. Stealth & Defense

Anechoic Coating	Specialized hull coatings to reduce sonar echo strength, maintain hydrodynamic performance.
Noise Reduction Features	Acoustic damping, vibration isolation, quiet Stirling AIP, optimized hull design for low flow noise.
Magnetic Signature Reduction	Adaptive degaussing system, corrosion / electric signature control.
Acoustic Signature Level	Extremely low; optimized for shallow, acoustically complex littoral environments (e.g. Baltic Sea).

7. Payload & Capacity

Weapons Payload	Heavy and lightweight torpedoes, mines, modular seabed payloads (depending on mission).
Special Forces Accommodation	Multi‑Mission Portal allows insertion/recovery of special forces, divers, UUVs/SDVs.
UUV / Drone Capability	Yes — designed to deploy/recover unmanned underwater vehicles for seabed warfare and ISR via portal.

8. Notable Technologies

Reactor / AIP Type	Four Kockums MkV V4-275R Stirling AIP units (air‑independent propulsion) + conventional diesel-electric engines.
Automation Level	High — modular systems, integrated CMS, streamlined maintenance for through-life upgrades.
Special Features	Multi‑Mission Portal for seabed operations and special‑forces deployment; balanced multi‑domain signature management; modular payload architecture; shock-resistant hull suitable for mine-threat environments.

9. Operational History

Major Deployments	Still under construction; first units scheduled for delivery 2031 and 2033 under latest contract.
Combat / Exercises	Not yet applicable — design and production phase.
Upgrades	Modular architecture intended to ease future upgrades, payload changes, and export customization.

10. Cost & Production

Unit Cost	Programme value revised to ~SEK 25 billion for first two submarines (~ USD 2.3 billion at current rates) under 2025 contract renegotiation.
Number Built	Initial order: two submarines for Swedish Navy (export customers may follow)
Production Period	Steel cut 2015; deliveries now planned for 2031 and 2033 after delays.

11. Media & Credits

Image / Video Source	Saab public photos and renderings; corporate material.
Official Website	Saab — A26 product page.
Reference Credit	Data compiled from Saab, Naval‑News, Army Recognition, and open defense‑industry sources.

Our Rating

The overall rating is based on review by our experts

Combat Effectiveness 8 / 10
Electronic Warfare 8 / 10
Technology 8 / 10
Range & Endurance 8 / 10

PROS

Highly stealthy — multi‑domain signature reduction (acoustic, magnetic, IR, radar).
Extremely long submerged endurance via Stirling AIP — covert, persistent presence.
Multi‑Mission Portal enables UUV/SDV/reconnaissance and special‑forces operations.
Modular design allows future upgrades and flexibility for various mission profiles.
Well suited for littoral and shallow-water environments; ideal for seabed warfare and infrastructure protection.

CONS

Not nuclear-powered — range and transit speed are limited compared with SSNs.
Delivery delays and cost overruns have pushed timelines out to 2031+ for earliest units.
Smaller size limits endurance, payload and crew comfort compared with larger submarines.
Lacks built-in vertical-launch missile capability in baseline design (though export variants may allow it).
Deep-ocean or global power-projection capabilities are more limited than with larger nuclear submarines.

Saab A26 – Next‑Gen Blekinge‑Class Submarine

The Saab A26 represents the cutting edge of conventional submarine design — a modern, stealth‑optimized platform built for the complex demands of littoral and blue‑water operations. Developed by Saab (via its Kockums submarine division) in Sweden, the A26 is tailored for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), anti‑submarine/anti‑surface warfare (ASW/ASuW), seabed warfare, and special‑forces operations. It reflects Saab’s vision for a “fifth-generation” submarine capable of integrating into multi-domain operations for NATO and allied navies.

What sets the A26 apart is its advanced stealth and signature management. Its hull geometry and specialized coatings reduce acoustic, magnetic, hydrodynamic, radar, infrared and visual signatures — making the vessel extremely difficult to detect. An adaptive degaussing system further minimizes magnetic emissions.

At the heart of the A26’s endurance is Saab’s patented Stirling air-independent propulsion (AIP) system. Combined with conventional diesel-electric machinery, this allows the submarine to stay submerged for weeks — essential for covert patrols and long-duration missions without surfacing.

A defining capability is its “Multi‑Mission Portal,” a 1.5‑meter diameter, forward‑mounted lock that enables deployment and recovery of unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs), swimmer delivery vehicles (SDVs), or even small teams of naval commandos. This gives the A26 a unique seabed-warfare and special-operations dimension, enabling undersea infrastructure surveillance, mine deployment or recovery, and covert insertion of personnel or payloads.

Despite its relatively compact size compared with nuclear submarines, A26 remains formidable. Its modular architecture allows future upgrades or payload customization — including mine warfare, torpedoes and potentially export variants with extended-range or enhanced payloads.

For the U.S.-focused defense professional or naval analyst, the Saab A26 offers a clear example of how modern diesel-electric submarines, properly engineered, continue to play a critical role in undersea deterrence, intelligence gathering, and asymmetric warfare — especially in confined or shallow seas where stealth and low signatures often matter more than raw speed or range.

Saab A26 Submarine Price

As of 2025 contract renegotiation, the A26 program for two submarines is budgeted at roughly SEK 25 billion — equivalent to about ‎USD 2.3 billion. Exact unit pricing in a U.S. dollar context will depend on exchange rates, configuration, export variant and associated support packages.

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Electronic Warfare:

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