Swedish AIP submarine HSwMS Gotland completes mid-life upgrade

HSwMS Gotland, the lead boat in the Swedish Navy’s Gotland-class of air-independent propulsion submarines has completed her mid-life upgrade, the company in charge of the overhaul announced.

According to submarine builder Saab, HSwMS Gotland is relaunched and ready to start her sea trials.

The company hosted a relaunch ceremony in Karlskrona on June 20.

“The relaunch of Gotland is an important milestone in the evolutionary development of the Swedish submarines. After a comprehensive upgrade, integrating the latest generation of important systems such as the Stirling Engine, modern sensors and new management functions, Gotland is almost a new submarine, ready to take on missions around the world“, says Gunnar Wieslander, senior vice president, head of business area Kockums at Saab.

HSwMS Gotland and sister boat Uppland are being upgraded by Saab Kockums under a SEK2.1 billion (approx. US$248m) contract signed with the Sweden’s Defense Material Administration (FMV) in June 2015. Uppland is still undergoing upgrades and is expected to be relaunched 12 months after Gotland.

During the mid-life upgrade, the 60-meter submarines are receiving an additional 2 meter hull section to accommodate the third generation of the Stirling air-independent propulsion engine and a diver lock-out chamber in addition to combat management and ship management systems upgrades.

This updated version of the Gotland will pave the way for the introduction of two new A26 AIP submarines for the Royal Swedish Navy. More than 20 systems on-board the new Gotland-class will be implemented in the A26. The MLU of Gotland therefore contributes to the test and qualification of some of the innovative solutions to be implemented in the future Swedish A26 submarine class.