Sweden’s new Blekinge-class submarines could give Russia a headache
- Sweden has developed a reputation for building sophisticated submarines.
- Swedish shipyard SAAB has just laid the keel on its new, next-generation submarine.
- The first Blekinge-class submarine will not be used for several years, but it will provide advanced capabilities.
Sweden’s industrial base becomes more active in supplying the military hardware that can make the country a leader in preparedness when it preparing to join NATO.
In fact, Saab may soon have another hit on its hands. Its next-generation submarine has moved one step closer to fruition.
On June 30, the Royal laid the keel of A26 Blekinge-class submarine — the leading boat in a class of two. The Blekinge class can stay submerged for 18 days and is larger than Gotlund classitself a formidable submarine, which the Blekinge class will replace towards the end of the decade.
Saab bets on its claim
Saab is enthusiastic about the Blekinge class, and the company’s CEO crowed about the virtues of the new submarine in a interview with Naval News.
“Submarine competence places Sweden among the few nations in the world with the ability to build modern and advanced submarines,” says Saab CEO Micael Johansson. “The ceremony is not only a milestone for HMS Blekinge, it is also proof that Sweden has regained the capability. We look forward to her sister HMS Skåne following in her footsteps.”
The Blekinge class has a long way to go before entering service. Final delivery is not expected until 2027 or 2028.
Still, the keel laying is a significant milestone along its acquisition path. It has taken five years of development to get Blekinge to this point. The Swedish military first ordered the submarines in 2015. Construction began in 2017 at Saab Kockum’s yard in Karlskronawhere Sweden has built ships for 300 years.
The Swedes are serious about underwater warfare
The Swedish Navy has invested $840 million in the Blekinge-class program in an effort to improve upon the Cold War era Södermanland class of diesel-electric subs.
The Blekinge class is planned to be as quiet as ever — the Swedes excel in noise reduction technology for underwater warfare. Blekinge is conventionally powered, but it will have flexible mounts to help reduce transient noise, resist shock and reduce the risk of detection by an enemy. The sub’s frame will better absorb noise, and the air ducts and pipes will also be quiet.
Blekinge will be around 217 feet long. It will displace almost 2,000 tons. These submarines will also be able to sneak close to land to deploy teams of special forces personnel, and this “multi-mission portal” will also deploy unmanned submarines.
The Swedes hope the unmanned underwater vehicles will use their intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities to swim far ahead and collect target data for the Blekinge class. The robotic craft can extend the range of the sonar to give the manned submarine better survivability against enemy submarines and destroyers. The drones can use active sonar as Blekinge stays hidden.
If an enemy detects the unmanned submarine, the potential destruction of that vessel will not endanger Blekinge, who can then stealthily leave the area of operations and live to fight another day.
Saab has become a defense powerhouse
Saab may be better known for car manufacturing, but the company has become a skilled arms manufacturer in recent years. It has been generate more revenue and profit each quarter.
Saab has a plan for what modern underwater warfare will look like in the next 20 years. Although the Swedish fleet will not dominate with its number of submarines, its unmanned submarines will act as a force multiplier.
Blekinge will be a robust and quiet boat that will help the Russian fleet guess in and out of the Baltic Sea.
Now serving as the 1945 Defense and National Security Editor, Brent M. EastwoodPhD, is the author of “People, Machines and Data: Future Trends in Warfare.” He is an emerging threat expert and former US Army infantry officer. You can follow him on Twitter @BMEastwood.