On 17 December 2025, the deputy prime minister – minister of national defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz and the minister of defence of Sweden Pål Jonson have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Warsaw, outlining the main goals of the strategic partnership rooted in the submarines acquisition programme. The MoU is also a guideline for both governments, giving a path for the acquisition of submarines in the ORKA programme.

The Swedish government, aided by the Polish defence industry, plans industrial investments in Poland and in Polish shipyards, but also browsing and using Polish equipment solutions for the Swedish Armed Forces. This is a great honour. It is a matter of great importance, including for me personally – to be able to be the signatory of this agreement in the name of Poland.
-    Said the Polish minister of national defence after the signing.

The Memorandum of Understanding signed by the ministers of defence of Poland and Sweden, outlines the main goals of the strategic partnership rooted in the submarines acquisition programme. It is also a confirmation of the relations between these countries, developed over the years – the Carl Gustaf M4 recoilless rifles (grenade launchers), early warning aircraft Saab-340 AEW and the electronic intelligence ships DELFIN are all examples of this.

I am very happy that today – after the decision of the Council of Ministers from the end of November, after more than a dozen days of intense talks between the government of the Republic of Poland and the Kingdom of Sweden – we are signing an agreement regarding acquiring the capabilities to operate underwater.
-    Said the deputy prime minister

The Memorandum specifies, among other matters, the number of submarines and dates of delivery, as well as the framework of a future contract. According to the Memorandum, the purchase will be rooted in a comprehensive acquisition of armaments dedicated for the A26 submarines as well as logistical solutions. Thanks to the MoU, the Polish defence industry will gain, as a result of the transfer of technologies, the capabilities to maintain, repair and service the submarines and their dedicated armaments in their entire life cycle, and the Swedish side pledges to include Polish defence companies in the process of manufacturing armaments for the Swedish Armed Forces, allowing for the increase of their attractiveness and competitiveness. This entails ia. the use of Polish-produced parts and components in Swedish defence platforms.

The decision of a chosen partner country for the ORKA programme was announced on 26 November this year. The country of first choice was announced to be Sweden, with its offer of three A26 submarines, with the declared delivery date of the first submarine by 2030, and a gap-filler of the A17 submarine. The training will begin in 2026, and the transfer of the gap-filler will be conducted in 2027.

>>> GALLERY - Memorandum on the acquisition of submarines signed

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The Council of Ministers acknowledged the report on the progress of acquiring submarines in the ORKA programme on 17 September 2025, which resulted in the signing of the minister of national defence, on 30 September 2025, Directive No. 26 on the creation of a Task Group (TG) for recommendations regarding the acquisition of modern submarines in the ORKA programme. The TG has created an Informational Questionnaire (IQ) containing detailed enquiries within ten key criteria, including transfer of technology, creating capabilities within the Polish defence industry, offering Polish products to Swedish industry and military.