The submarine project that survived a corporate hostage crisis
In short: In 2014, the Swedish government had to use an armed escort to repossess secret blueprints and equipment from a private company. This high-stakes standoff was a byproduct of a submarine project that had been stalled for decades, nearly derailed by corporate greed and geopolitical shifts.
The Blekinge-class submarine (A26 type) is the successor to Sweden's Södermanland class. Its journey began in the early 1990s as 'U-båt 2000,' but the project was shelved for years following the end of the Cold War when Soviet naval threats diminished. The project remained inactive for a period before the mid-2000s, as a substitute became vital. A planned Scandinavian collaboration with Denmark eventually collapsed when Denmark withdrew from submarine operations, leaving the Swedish firm Kockums to proceed alone.
The project faced a dramatic crisis in 2014. After Kockums was acquired by the German company ThyssenKrupp, a rift formed over funding. ThyssenKrupp demanded that each buyer pay the full development cost rather than sharing it, leading the Swedish government to cancel the deal. This triggered a 'repossession incident' on April 8, 2014, where the Swedish government used an armed escort to seize secret blueprints and equipment. Kockums staff even attempted to sabotage the move by locking the gates while the escort was inside.
The project was revived in 2015 after Saab acquired Kockums to form 'Saab Kockums.' While the initial 2015 contract was worth SEK 8.2 billion, escalating costs and schedule slips led to a 2021 renegotiation. By October 2025, the delivery dates for the two submarines were pushed back to 2031 and 2033, with a fixed cost ceiling of SEK 25 billion. The A26 is designed for 'blue water' capability, featuring GHOST stealth technology, modified AIP Stirling propulsion, and the ability to launch and recover vehicles through torpedo tubes.
Beyond Sweden, the A26 has become a significant export candidate. In 2025, the Polish Navy selected the A26 for its Orka programme, placing an order for three submarines in June 2026 worth SEK 47 billion. Other nations, including Greece, Chile, Australia, Canada, and the Netherlands, have shown interest or engaged in bidding processes involving the A26 or its derivatives, such as the 4,000-ton Type 612 variant.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Blekinge-class submarine
- Also: Wikidata — Blekinge-class submarine · CC0
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