The bidding process for Poland’s new submarine acquisition project, “Orka Project,” has concluded, with a Swedish defense company winning the bid.
On November 26 local time, the Polish government announced after a cabinet meeting that it had finally selected the Swedish defense company Saab Group as the contractor for the Orka project in Poland, while Hanwha Ocean, which had been touted as the most likely to win the bid, ultimately failed to be selected.
According to information disclosed by Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Błażej Krzysztof Kaczyński, the Dutch government has selected Saab Group as its partner for the new submarine project, with the final construction contract expectedto be signed no later than the second quarter of 2026.
Poland’s new submarine project is a large-scale defense shipbuilding initiative that will introduce three new 3,000-ton class submarines. The submarine construction component alone is valued at approximately PLN 10 billion (equivalent to $2.736 billion).
This major defense contract attracted participation from six leading global shipbuilding and defense groups, including South Korea’s Hanwha Ocean, Germany’s TKMS, Italy’s Fincantieri, Spain’s Navantia, and France’s Naval Group.
Notably, Hanwha Ocean made significant efforts to secure Poland’s new submarine project, particularly by strengthening cooperation with local Polish enterprises. For instance, in 2024, Hanwha Ocean signed a memorandum of understanding with Polish defense group WB for submarine business collaboration, focusing on localization efforts. This includes establishing maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) programs with PGZ and the UK’s Babcock.
In early 2025, executives from Hanwha Ocean led a delegation to visit the Remontowa and Nauta shipyards located in Gdańsk and Gdynia, Poland, respectively. During the visit, discussions were held on potential cooperation opportunities in shipbuilding, MRO services, ship design diversification, and environmental technologies.
These moves were seen as Hanwha Ocean’s proactive efforts to secure a major Polish submarine contract. Despite this, Hanwha Ocean ultimately failed to win the bid.
It is understood that Saab Group, which successfully bid for Poland’s new submarine project, was founded in 1937. As a leading Swedish defense enterprise, it is regarded as a core pillar of the Nordic security system. The group was once widely recognized for its automotive brand, but today it is renowned for products such as the NLAW anti-tank missile and the Carl Gustaf multi-purpose rocket launcher.
The A26 Blekinge-class submarine proposed by the Saab Group to Poland is specifically designed for the shallow depths and low salinity of the Baltic Sea. It incorporates Ghost technology to enhance stealth capabilities, significantly reducing the probability of detection.
Military industry analysts note that regional conditions, threat perceptions, and existing maritime cooperation between Sweden and Poland all present favorable conditions for Saab Group. An industry insider stated: “Unlike the surge in demand for land and artillery systems driven by South Korea’s defense industry, the selection of naval platforms is more constrained by operational environments, existing technologies, and training networks. While Hanwha Ocean demonstrated technical capabilities, Poland ultimately chose the Swedish solution considering the Baltic Sea power balance and the Nordic security landscape.”