Members of the Polish Parliament are concerned about the inability to launch cruise missiles from the future A26 submarines, which are to be procured under the Orka program.
This was reported by Defence24.
During a special session of the Sejm’s National Defense Committee, convened at the request of a group of opposition deputies led by PiS MP Michał Jach, lawmakers sought more information regarding the procurement of a new generation of submarines for the Polish Navy.
According to opposition MPs, the combat capabilities of the new Polish submarines without cruise missiles are not worth the funds that will be spent on the purchase of three Swedish Saab A26 submarines. Representatives of the Armaments Agency announced the decision to forgo this type of weaponry at the committee meeting on February 25, 2026.
Lawmakers noted that this is a “very important and powerful element of the Republic of Poland’s strategic security,” as well as a means of creating a “real threat to strategic Russian targets within range” — over 1,000 km.
They also emphasized that retrofitting Polish submarines with such weapons in the future would be very complex and expensive. This is particularly due to the need to install an additional hull section if a vertical launch weapon system is selected.
The Polish Ministry of Defense does not wish to disclose information about the progress of negotiations in open parliamentary committee sessions until they are concluded, that is, until June 2026. The armament of future Polish submarines has become a particularly sensitive topic.
At the same time, Vice Admiral Jarosław Ziemiański stated that “even a submarine with so-called classic torpedo and mine armament is a truly significant threat” in the Baltic Sea. According to him, the Navy is doing everything possible to obtain armaments that will ensure “adequate capability against all threats we currently foresee, as well as future ones.”
As the publication emphasizes, the low priority given to cruise missiles in the Orka program contradicts the seven priorities for the development of the Polish Armed Forces for 2025-2039, one of which calls for “the capability for deep, precision strikes.”
A26 submarines for Poland
The Swedish company Saab won the tender for new submarines for the Polish Navy in November 2025. The agreement provides for the purchase of three Saab A26 submarines for approximately $2.8 billion. The contract is expected to be finalized by the second quarter of 2026. The first A26 is expected in 2030.
The Saab A26 submarine is 66 meters long, 6.75 meters wide, and has a displacement of approximately 1,900 tons when submerged. It has a crew of 26, with the capacity to accommodate up to 35 personnel when special forces are on board.
The submarines are equipped with a diesel-electric propulsion system and the Stirling air-independent propulsion system developed by Saab Kockums. This allows them to remain submerged for over two weeks without surfacing, ensuring high autonomy and low detectability.
The A26-class submarines were designed using a modular approach, allowing the composition of armaments and onboard systems to be customized according to customer requirements. The base configuration includes four 533-mm torpedo tubes for heavy torpedoes and two 400-mm torpedo tubes for light torpedoes. For export versions, additional armament modules are offered, including options for integrating vertical launch systems for various types of missiles depending on the customer’s requirements.
