Saab and PGZ Expand Polish Swedish Naval Defense Cooperation
Saab and Poland’s PGZ signed a naval cooperation agreement covering submarine support, underwater technologies, and industrial collaboration linked to Poland’s maritime modernization efforts.
Swedish defense company Saab and Poland’s Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa have signed a strategic cooperation agreement aimed at expanding industrial and operational collaboration in the naval sector.
The agreement covers support and servicing activities for both surface vessels and submarines, alongside broader cooperation in maritime technologies and defense manufacturing. According to the companies, PGZ entities operating in the naval domain are expected to become part of Saab’s supply chain under the arrangement.
The partners also plan to establish an underwater technology center in Poland and assess potential joint projects related to heavyweight torpedo development. Saab indicated that the cooperation could extend to export-oriented programs involving surface and underwater platforms, including rescue vessels.
The latest agreement follows earlier Polish Swedish defense cooperation linked to Warsaw’s Orka submarine procurement program. Poland selected Saab in 2025 as the preferred supplier for three new submarines intended to modernize the Polish Navy’s undersea capabilities in the Baltic Sea. The program is expected to include industrial participation and technology transfer elements for the Polish shipbuilding sector.
In March, Saab and PGZ also signed an agreement covering maintenance and support activities for the future submarine fleet. The new memorandum broadens cooperation into additional naval and industrial areas.
Saab CEO Micael Johansson stated that the pace of bilateral cooperation demonstrates growing industrial alignment between Sweden and Poland. PGZ management described maritime capabilities and submarine technologies as an increasingly important component of bilateral defense cooperation.
The agreement reflects wider regional defense integration efforts among Baltic NATO members following the deterioration of the European security environment after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Poland has accelerated military modernization programs while simultaneously seeking to expand the role of its domestic defense industry through partnerships with foreign manufacturers.
For Saab, the cooperation provides deeper access to Poland’s naval industrial base and potentially positions the company more strongly within future Polish maritime procurement programs. For PGZ, the partnership could increase participation in European naval supply chains and support capability development in the underwater systems segment.
