Saab inks $116M deal for mid-life upgrade of Swedish Navy’s Gotland-class submarine

Saab has signed a contract with the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) for the mid-life upgrade (MLU) of the third Gotland-class submarine, HMS Halland.

As explained, Saab will conduct an extensive MLU on Sweden’s Gotland-class submarine HMS Halland, including an overhaul and upgrade of the combat system. The total order value is SEK 1.1 billion (around $116 million).

The Gotland-class submarines were built between 1990-1997. The Gotland-class includes three submarines, all of which have gone through minor modifications during the first part of their lifetime.

HMS Halland is the final boat to go through an extensive MLU. HMS Gotland and HMS Uppland were relaunched in 2018 and 2019. 

“The updated versions of the Gotland-class are paving the way for the … modern air-independent propulsion submarine under production today: the Blekinge-class (A26),” the company stated.

More than 20 new systems that will be implemented in the new class A26 will be also implemented in HMS Halland as part of the MLU, which contributes to their de-risking for the A26.