Key Points and Summary – Sweden’s A26 Blekinge-class is pitched as the world’s first “fifth-generation” conventional submarine, pairing ultra-low acoustic signatures with advanced ISR, seabed warfare tools, and a large portal for special forces and UUVs.
-It is exactly the kind of boat NATO wants in a Baltic that now looks more like a NATO “lake.”
(Oct. 1, 2005) – The Swedish diesel-powered attack submarine HMS Gotland transits through San Diego Harbor during the “Sea and Air Parade” held as part of Fleet Week San Diego 2005. Fleet Week San Diego is a three-week tribute to Southern California-area military members and their families. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 2nd Class Patricia R. Totemeier (RELEASED)
Gotland-Class Submarines. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
-But the program has been hammered by unrealistic early budgets, the failure to land export partners, and a struggling Kockums yard that hasn’t delivered a new class since the 1990s.
-Delivery has slipped to the 2030s, forcing life extensions on aging boats while everyone waits for Sweden’s next big undersea play.
Sweden’s A26 Blekinge Submarine, Very Capable, But Delayed
The Swedish A26 is being billed as the world’s first fifth-generation submarine. Certainly its design is outstanding, and the project could end up producing the world’s best non-nuclear boat.
Sweden plans to add two A26s to work alongside their three upgraded A19 Gotland-class air-independent propulsion boats.
Remember, it was the Gotland-class that famously defeated a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier in drills back in 2005.
The A26s and A19s will share common combat systems and sensors, but the A26s will bring improved endurance and offer a larger bow portal for special operations combat divers and unmanned drones.
However, the project is facing significant delays and cost increases. The first submarine is now scheduled for delivery in 2031 and the second in 2035.
Setbacks for the program include an original budget that was unrealistically low, a missed deadline for securing an export order to share costs, and renegotiations with the defense contractor, Saab.
A budget increase in 2021 and a contract renegotiation in October 2025 reflect these issues.
The A26 Is Arguably A Game Changer For NATO…and Sweden
The A26 submarine’s stealth makes this among the world’s hardest-to-detect submarines.
The A26 will contribute to NATO’s multi-domain operations (MDO). The future submarine meets MDO standards thanks to secure and interoperable Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance capabilities, advanced data processing, and long-range strike and logistical capabilities.
The unique ability to deliver special forces and unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) and its seabed interaction set the A26 up for highly effective seabed warfare, specially in the shallow Baltic Sea.
Factors Contributing To The Delays
Sweden planned in 2010 to replace two Södermanland-class submarines with the A26 in 2018 and 2019. The order for the two new submarines came in 2015, with a total program cost of 8.4 billion krona (inflation-adjusted to 11.2 billion krona, or 1 billion euros) and delivery set between 2022 and 2024.
The low budget was unrealistic. It was set too low and relied on securing an export order by June 2019 to help cover costs, a goal that was not met.
The failure to secure an international partner meant Sweden had to cover the full costs, leading to budget adjustments that significantly increased the overall cost.
One of the Södermanland-class submarines was mothballed in 2021, well past the 2018 deadline set for the first A26. The other is currently undergoing deep maintenance and upgrades to extend its service life up to 2028, which would see it serve an even 40 years.
Contract Renegotiations With Saab
The delays and cost overruns forced multiple renegotiations between Saab and the Swedish Defense Materiel Administration (FMV).
According to Janes, under the revised terms announced on Oct. 13, the delivery of the two boats, which will be named HMS Blekinge and HMS Skåne, has been pushed back to the early 2030s, and an additional 9.6 billion krona has been injected into the program.
The amendment, which includes minor provisions to improve security of the supply chain in the submarine sector, takes the total contract value up to 25 billion krona.
Production challenges are many. Some analysts suggest that difficulties in producing an entirely new submarine class after a long break may be a factor: The Kockums submarine yard is in poor shape and has not built a new submarine since the Gotland-class was delivered in the mid-1990s.
Changes To Sweden’s Entire Naval Doctrine
Sweden’s NATO accession in 2024 has dramatically shifted the nation’s naval doctrine. Sweden for centuries was a neutral, non-aligned country. Now, it is no longer just defending its own shores—the Swedish navy helps guard NATO’s eastern flank, with the “border” effectively on Finland’s and the Baltic States’ coasts.
As Swedish Navy Chief Rear Adm. Johan Norlén put it, “We are also defending our nations on the other sides. … The border is on the eastern shore right now.”
U.S. Rear Adm. Bret Grabbe, NATO’s top submarine commander said, “With Sweden’s addition … that was our first opportunity to add another submarine nation to NATO. And now we have, basically, a Baltic lake full of NATO submarines.”
Currently, the alliance has a tremendous advantage in submarines. Right now, there is a three-to-one or four-to-one ratio of NATO ships to adversary ships around the Area of Responsibility, and “that’s quite an impressive deterrent feature that we have when we’re working together,” Grabbe said.
New Timeline and Budget
The success of the revised work plan may depend on the shipyard. A new order in October 2025 includes additional funding and a new schedule, with deliveries taking place between 2026 and 2032.
The A26 Blekinge-class submarine program may become one of the best non-nuclear submarines in the world. But we won’t see it for another five years.
About the Author: Steve Balestrieri
Steve Balestrieri is a National Security Columnist. He served as a US Army Special Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. In addition to writing on defense, he covers the NFL for PatsFans.com and is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA). His work was regularly featured in many military publications.
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