Poland Selects Sweden's Saab, Not Hanwha, as Contractor for New Submarine Project

Sweden Chosen After Six-Way Bidding
Establishing a New Security Infrastructure in the Baltic Sea

The Polish government has selected Swedish defense company Saab as the contractor for its new submarine project.

Reuters Yonhap News

Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz announced this decision on the 26th (local time) after a cabinet meeting, stating that the final contract is expected to be signed by the second quarter of next year at the latest.

He added, "With this decision, we will establish a new security infrastructure in the Baltic Sea," and noted that the project is valued at approximately 10 billion zloty (about 3.8 trillion won).

The bidding competition included Saab, South Korea's Hanwha Group, Germany's Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, Italy's Fincantieri, Spain's Navantia, and France's Naval Group. Saab, which has been selected, is a leading Swedish defense company founded in 1937. It is a key pillar of Nordic security, producing the Gripen fighter jet, the NLAW anti-tank weapon, and the Carl Gustaf recoilless rifle.

Hanwha Ocean highlighted the Jangbogo-III (KSS-III) submarine, emphasizing its strengths such as extended underwater endurance based on lithium-ion batteries, submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) deployment technology, and the ability to shorten delivery times.

Previously, foreign media reported that the total project cost, including weapons system integration and lifecycle maintenance, would reach 36 billion zloty (about 14.5 trillion won).