PARIS, — French electrical equipment manufacturer Jeumont Electric has secured a contract from Swedish defence company Saab to supply the main electric propulsion systems for three A26 PL submarines ordered by the Polish Navy under the Orka modernisation programme.
Under the agreement, Jeumont Electric will deliver three complete electric propulsion systems. The financial details of the contract have not been disclosed. The deal extends the company’s existing partnership with Saab, as Jeumont Electric already supplies equipment for Sweden’s A26 submarines, known as the Blekinge class, and the Collins-class submarines operated by the Royal Australian Navy.
Poland’s SEK 47 Billion Submarine Programme
On June 29, 2026, Poland’s State Treasury Armaments Agency signed a contract with Saab worth approximately SEK 47 billion (about $4.8 billion) for three customised A26 submarines. The agreement covers the submarines, a weapons package, training and support. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2031, with the final submarine expected to enter service in 2038.
The A26 design combines diesel-electric propulsion with Stirling air-independent propulsion (AIP), supporting extended underwater operations. Jeumont Electric’s electric propulsion systems are designed for high reliability and low acoustic signatures, helping reduce machinery noise and improve submarine stealth. These capabilities are particularly important in the Baltic Sea’s shallow and complex maritime environment.
Poland Prepares Submarine Crews
While the new submarines are being built, Poland has agreed to lease the Swedish Navy’s HMS Södermanland as an interim training platform. Polish naval personnel arrived at the naval base in Karlskrona, Sweden, in August 2026 to begin an 18-month training programme to prepare for the transition to the new submarines and their digitally integrated systems.
Jeumont Electric’s Naval Defence Experience
Founded in 1898 and based in northern France, Jeumont Electric specialises in electric motors, generators and related systems for naval and energy applications. The company was acquired by Framatome and Naval Group in early 2024. Its permanent-magnet motors and related equipment have been used in submarine programmes, with compact design and low acoustic output among their key characteristics.
Jeumont Electric said the continuation of its partnership with Saab on the sovereign Orka programme demonstrates the value of its technological solutions. The agreement strengthens its role as a supplier of critical submarine equipment as Saab advances the production and integration of the three Polish A26 PL submarines.
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