First Steel Cut for Swedish Navy’s New A26 Sub

The construction phase for the Swedish Navy’s A26 next-generation submarine officially begins with a steel cutting ceremony on September 4.

The world’s most modern submarine program has started at the Saab Kockums shipyard in Karlskrona, when the first steel for the new vessel was cut.

A26, a next-generation submarine, has the ability to perform in all oceans and across a broad spectrum of conflict environments. Along with its traditional load of mines and torpedoes, the submarine can be equipped with missiles. Perhaps the most unique A26 design feature is its Multi Mission Portal™, for the launch and retrieval of diverse mission payloads such as manned and unmanned vehicles. The A26 submarine will be a strong intelligence-gathering platform within the wider defense network.

Gunnar Wieslander, head of Saab’s business unit Saab Kockums, said:

We have left the design phase behind and begun construction of the A26, a pillar of Sweden’s future naval defence. The A26 is a new standard bearer; a step forward in the Swedish tradition of modular design and building, it ensures maximum operational effectiveness with a lower lifecycle cost.

On 30 June 2015, Saab signed contracts with the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration to construct, verify and deliver two new Type A26 submarines to a total order value of SEK7.6 billion (USD 919 million). The first delivery will be 2022.

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Image: Saab