Three A26 Blekinge submarines will win Poland for the Navy. Today, the government has decided that the Swedish 1 will be selected from the offers submitted by six countries. Already in 2027 Polish sailors will besides receive a gap-filler – a temporary ship on which they will be trained until the first contracted unit is deployed.
I have been listening to this request for decades. I am glad that our decision will make Poland's position in the Baltic stronger – said Prime Minister Donald Tusk before the government meeting. At the time, it was not entirely clear what the decision-makers would offer. 2 hours later it became clear that submarines for the Polish Navy would build Swedes.
Poland acquires 3 units A26 Blekinge. The first ships of this kind are already formed at Saab Kockums shipyard in Karlskron. It was ordered by the Swedish Navy. A26 are units adapted to operate in the shallow waters of the Baltic, though not only. They will be equipped with 4 533 mm torpedo tubes, and a modular plan will enable them to be equipped in future with maneuvering missiles. The advantage of the ships is the AIP, which is an air-independent drive. It will let them to stay underwater longer than conventionally driven units.
The details of the agreement in the coming months will be further developed. Then we will find out precisely erstwhile Poland will receive the first ship and how much the contract will cost. During today's press conference, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz estimated, however, that the white-red flag over the first A26 should collapse around 2030, and the cost of the order oscillates around the amount of PLN 10 billion. The head of the MON assured that the contract itself would be signed soon. "It will happen in the second 4th of next year at the latest," he noted.
But before the sailors receive the first contracted ship, Poland will be delivered to the alleged gap-filler. This is simply a bridge solution – a temporary unit from which the navy will be able to usage until the first A26 is acquired. This function will most likely be performed by submarine A17. – Next year training will begin in Sweden, and already in 2027 the gap-filler will service our sailors. Of course, he will be flying the Polish flag – announced Kosiniak-Kamish.
The Swedish bid was selected from proposals submitted by six countries in total. The contract was besides applied for by the Spanish, Italians, Germany (a joint offer with the Norwegians), French and Koreans. What made the final decision? – Sweden submitted the best offer according to the task force set up by the government decision, and this advice was confirmed by the Council of Ministers. This was the case after the examination of all the criteria concerning both the transportation date, price, value and ability to operate in the Baltic Sea basin, as calculated by the head of the MON. But that is not the end. As Kosiniak-Kamysz admitted, Poland, erstwhile choosing a contractor, besides wanted to get additional capabilities for the native shipbuilding industry. The Swedes assured that in the future all repairs and services of shortly purchased submarines will be carried out in Polish plants. They besides undertook to acquisition Polish weapons. They're buying Lightning. They besides declared that they would buy in Poland a ship akin to “Ratownik”, the Minister of Defence announced. The unit is formed in the Gdynia War Shipyard. Today, it was officially built.
According to the Deputy Prime Minister, all offers were prepared very solidly. Their detailed analysis continued for the past fewer months. “The squad under my direction has analyzed 3,000 pages of documentation,” Kosiniak-Kamysz said. Finally, the case led to a breakthrough.
The question of buying fresh submarines, with little or little intensity, has been considered for nearly 3 decades. Meanwhile, the Polish fleet was melting. It is now composed of only the utilized Eagle ORP from the late 1980s. Despite their difficulties, however, Polish sailors retained the ability to carry out underwater activities. “This deserves large credit,” said the Minister of Defence.
The fresh units will be part of the 3 Fleet Ships that are stationed in Gdynia.
