Saab and PGZ deepen Baltic naval cooperation

Saab and Poland’s PGZ Group have signed a strategic naval cooperation agreement that could significantly reshape the Baltic defence-industrial landscape. The partnership covers submarine sustainment, underwater technologies, autonomous maritime systems and potential cooperation on heavy torpedoes, while strengthening Poland’s role within NATO’s northern maritime architecture.

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14 may 2026   |   08:14   |   Source: Gazeta Morska   |   Prepared by: Kamil Kusier   |   Print

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Strategic shift in the Baltic defence industry

The agreement signed in Stockholm on 13 May marks a substantial expansion of the Saab - PGZ relationship and reflects a broader transformation of Baltic security cooperation following Sweden’s accession to NATO.

Rather than focusing solely on procurement, the new framework emphasizes industrial integration, long-term sustainment and joint technological development in the maritime and underwater domains.

According to the companies, the cooperation will include:

• lifecycle support for surface and submarine platforms,
• integration of PGZ maritime entities into Saab’s supply chain,
• joint export opportunities,
• underwater technology development,
• autonomous maritime systems,
• exploration of cooperation on heavy torpedoes.

The announcement follows a memorandum of understanding signed during MSPO 2025 in Kielce and a March 2026 agreement concerning MRO support in Poland for future submarines acquired under the Polish Navy’s Orka programme.

Orka remains the strategic backdrop

Although neither side explicitly linked the agreement to the future selection of Poland’s next-generation submarines, the industrial positioning is difficult to ignore.

Saab Kockums remains one of the leading contenders in the broader European submarine market, particularly for operations in shallow and acoustically challenging waters such as the Baltic Sea.

The company’s Blekinge-class (A26) submarine design has been optimized for regional operational conditions, including anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering and infrastructure protection.

For Warsaw, however, the strategic value increasingly extends beyond the platform itself. The ability to secure domestic maintenance, repair and overhaul capability — as well as local industrial participation has become a central requirement in major defence programmes.

The new Saab–PGZ framework directly addresses that demand.

Underwater technology centre planned for Poland

One of the most significant elements of the agreement is the stated intention to establish an Underwater Technology Centre in Poland.

If implemented at scale, the initiative could become a key regional hub for:

• underwater surveillance technologies,
• sonar systems,
• autonomous underwater vehicles,
• mine countermeasure solutions,
• critical seabed infrastructure protection,
• maritime AI applications.

The move aligns with rapidly growing NATO concerns over subsea infrastructure security in the Baltic region.

Following repeated incidents involving pipelines, communication cables and offshore infrastructure, allied navies have accelerated investment in persistent underwater monitoring and autonomous maritime systems.

Autonomous maritime systems gain momentum

The agreement also includes plans to jointly produce and market Saab’s Autonomous Ocean Drone.

The global maritime defence sector is increasingly shifting toward unmanned and autonomous platforms capable of conducting long-duration surveillance and reducing operational risk for manned assets.

For Poland, participation in such programmes could provide access to a fast-growing technological segment where domestic industrial capabilities remain relatively limited.

At the same time, Saab benefits from a geographically strategic industrial partner located on NATO’s eastern flank.

Heavy torpedo cooperation sends strong signal

Another notable aspect of the agreement concerns the exploration of cooperation on heavy torpedo projects.

Heavy torpedoes remain among the most sensitive naval weapons systems due to their advanced propulsion, guidance and acoustic technologies.

Even preliminary discussions in this field indicate a relatively high level of industrial trust between both sides.

Potential cooperation could involve:

• maintenance capability,
• systems integration,
• selected component manufacturing,
• future ammunition-related industrial cooperation.

Building a Baltic security ecosystem

The Saab - PGZ agreement should also be viewed through a geopolitical lens.

Sweden’s NATO membership has fundamentally altered the strategic environment in Northern Europe, creating new opportunities for integrated maritime defence planning among Poland, Sweden and Finland.

The Baltic Sea is no longer treated merely as a regional operating area but increasingly as a critical strategic corridor requiring:

• persistent maritime awareness,
• anti-submarine capabilities,
• seabed infrastructure protection,
• rapid industrial support capacity.

Against that backdrop, the new partnership may become an important building block in a broader Baltic defence-industrial ecosystem.

Industrial opportunities and unanswered questions

For PGZ, the agreement offers potential access to advanced naval technologies and integration into international defence supply chains.

For Saab, the partnership strengthens its regional industrial footprint and improves its position within future Polish naval modernization programmes.

However, several questions remain unresolved:

• the final structure of Poland’s Orka procurement,
• the actual scale of technology transfer,
• financing mechanisms,
• the degree of local industrial participation.

Still, the agreement clearly demonstrates that underwater and maritime defence technologies are becoming one of the defining pillars of Polish–Swedish strategic cooperation in the Baltic region.

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