PGZ and Saab deepen industrial cooperation as Poland’s Orka submarine programme moves forward

On 12 March in Gdańsk, the Polish Armaments Group (PGZ) and Swedish defence company Saab signed a cooperation agreement marking another step toward building an industrial partnership linked to the modernization of the Polish Navy under the government’s new-generation submarine acquisition programme, codenamed "Orka".

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13 march 2026   |   13:19   |   Source: Gazeta Morska   |   Prepared by: Kamil Kusier   |   Print

fot. Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa

The agreement was signed between PGZ S.A., PGZ Naval Shipyard, Nauta Shiprepair Yard and the Research and Development Centre for Maritime Technology (CTM), together with Saab. The partnership aims to develop industrial competencies in Poland for maintaining and supporting the future A26 class submarines while strengthening long-term service capabilities within the Polish defence industry.

The cooperation is intended to establish a foundation for future national independence in submarine maintenance and lifecycle support while also strengthening the industrial potential of the Baltic Sea region. By integrating expertise, experience and technological resources from both partners, the initiative is expected to create durable industrial capabilities that will support the long-term development of the defence sector.

- Signing a new agreement with PGZ marks an important step in strengthening cooperation between the Polish and Swedish defence industries. Sharing knowledge and jointly increasing the scale of innovation will allow us to develop advanced solutions and capabilities that contribute to security and stability in Europe and the Baltic Sea region, said Micael Johansson, President and CEO of Saab.

According to PGZ representatives, building domestic capabilities for maintaining and servicing military equipment remains one of the key priorities of Poland’s defence policy.

- Ensuring full national sovereignty in the area of military equipment service capabilities is one of the state’s priorities and an integral part of PGZ’s cooperation model with industrial partners. Therefore, the cooperation between PGZ and Saab related to the Polish government’s indication of the Swedish offer in the selection process for the new-type submarine under the Orka programme has particular significance. Alongside industrial cooperation, it is also a key element of the strategic partnership between Poland and Sweden aimed at strengthening security in the Baltic Sea, said Marcin Idzik, Vice President of the Management Board of PGZ.

He also highlighted the symbolic importance of the date on which the agreement was signed.

- The importance of today’s agreement is symbolically reinforced by two anniversaries. Exactly 27 years ago, on 12 March 1999, Poland joined the North Atlantic Alliance. Two years ago, on 7 March 2024, Sweden became a NATO member. Together we create and strengthen Europe’s security, Marcin Idzik added.

One of the key objectives of the partnership is to establish specialized technical, organizational and competence-based infrastructure in Poland that will enable the maintenance and support of future submarines throughout their entire lifecycle.

- A new generation of industrial competencies related to servicing and sustaining future submarines throughout their lifecycle in Poland is a challenge. It is a challenge for which capabilities must be built in a systemic way, based on knowledge and technology transfer and the consistent strengthening of human capital, said Jan Grabowski, Vice President of the Management Board of PGZ.

The agreement signed in Gdańsk represents the continuation of ongoing cooperation between PGZ and Saab. On 9 January 2026, the management boards of both companies met in Warsaw to discuss the development of their industrial partnership. Earlier, during the International Defence Industry Exhibition (MSPO) in Kielce in September 2025, the companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding covering cooperation in several areas, including the maritime domain. In October 2025, Warsaw also hosted the Polish-Swedish Defence Industry Forum, another platform for strengthening cooperation between the defence industries of both countries.

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program Orka okręty podwodne dla Polski PGZ Saab współpraca modernizacja Marynarki Wojennej RP okręty podwodne A26

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