The Swedish defence company Saab is a provider of modern technologies that significantly enhance the operational capabilities of the Polish Armed Forces and strengthen Poland’s defensive capabilities. The company expresses its commitment to further cooperation with the Ministry of National Defence and the Polish defence industry in key technical modernisation programmes. Sweden’s recent accession to NATO has created a new context, enabling the construction of a Polish-Swedish strategic partnership, which could ensure the Alliance’s dominance in the Baltic Sea and make Poland and Sweden security providers for the entire region.

Two main factors make Poland and Sweden obvious strategic partners in the field of security. The first is the geographic factor, as both countries are located on the Baltic Sea; the second is the political factor, with both nations being members of the European Union and NATO. Sweden’s NATO membership undoubtedly strengthens the partnership between Poland and Sweden even more. Sweden’s NATO membership is positive for Sweden, NATO and the Swedish defence industry. Stockholm and Warsaw have long recognised the benefits of military and industrial cooperation, as evidenced by the ongoing cooperation between the Swedish and Polish navies (the geographical proximity of the naval bases in Gdynia and Karlskrona makes this cooperation natural and full of operational potential), as well as the consistent involvement of the Swedish defence industry in the technical modernisation of the Polish armed forces. Moreover, cooperation with Saab presents an opportunity for the development of the Polish defence sector, which could be integrated into the global supply chain of its Swedish partner, as well as to gain increased market opportunities for its products in Sweden. The Polish industry may also become involved in development work on new defence systems, which will subsequently be offered on the global market.

Saab provides new capabilities to the Polish armed forces

For many years, Saab has been a trusted partner of the Polish military, providing defence technologies that enhance their capabilities across all domains. The Swedish defence company established a permanent presence in Poland as early as 2009. Today, Saab Technologies Poland employs 40 people across various sites, with the number expected to grow in the future. The company collaborates with several Polish firms and higher education institutions, such as the Polish Naval Academy in Gdynia. For Saab, as a global company with 22,000 employees worldwide, working with local partners is fundamental to its business philosophy, creating synergies that benefit both sides. From Poland’s perspective, this means the transfer of technology and expertise to the national industry, supporting the country’s economic development and knowledge-based economy.

Recently, Poland has signed several contracts with the Swedish company for the supply of modern military systems to be deployed across various operational domains. Under an agreement signed in March of this year, Saab will deliver a significant number of Carl-Gustaf M4 multi-role grenade launchers, including ammunition and training equipment, to the Polish armed forces. This weapon will enhance the capabilities of the land forces to engage a variety of targets, including armoured vehicles. The course of the conflict in Ukraine has demonstrated that equipping armed forces with proven, modern weapons of this class can have a decisive impact on the success of defence operations on land and potentially alter the course of a war.

A notable example of the close technological partnership between Saab and Polish industry is the construction of electromagnetic reconnaissance ships (SIGINT) under a 2022 agreement. Two vessels are being built by the Polish shipyard, Remontowa Shipbuilding, while Saab will equip them with advanced and modern mission systems. This is a prime example of synergy, which will provide the Polish Navy with new intelligence and reconnaissance capabilities, and also strengthen the Polish-Swedish partnership in the Baltic Sea, as similar ships are operated by the Swedish Navy to monitor and detect threats in the Baltic region.

Additionally, Saab has already delivered two Saab 340 AEW early warning aircraft to Poland (the contract was signed in mid-2023). Their deployment means that the Polish armed forces will gain critically important long-range reconnaissance capabilities, allowing for the detection of targets such as missiles, aircraft, and drones at distances of several hundred kilometres. This represents a significant enhancement of Poland’s air defence capabilities. The Polish military has never before had its own access to early warning systems of this class. Saab has a team of specialists in Poland to support the armed forces in operating these aircraft. The training of their crews has already been completed, and the aircraft have commenced their first operational flights.

Lessons learned from modern armed conflicts indicate that early warning is a critically important capability, not only for the armed forces but also for the entire state and society. The timely detection of airborne threats — using systems such as the Saab 340 AEW aircraft — allows for the warning of civilians, thereby contributing to saving lives. On a military level, it enables the state’s air defence system to take appropriate action to neutralise the threat.

The development of missile and drone technologies means that future airborne threats will become increasingly advanced, and thus more dangerous. Specialists and engineers at Saab are continuously working on defence technologies to address these threats. Saab is determined to further enhance the capabilities of the Polish armed forces in early warning systems and is ready to offer Poland a new solution in this area. The company’s portfolio includes next-generation systems that provide military forces with information dominance on the battlefield and possess the potential to meet future challenges. There is no doubt that the interoperability of Swedish and Polish armed forces — including in the area of early warning and airspace surveillance — is a factor that enhances security in the Baltic Sea region and along NATO’s north-eastern flank.

Securing the Baltic

Poland and Sweden share common interests in the Baltic Sea: both countries possess critical maritime infrastructure and ports that require protection. Warsaw and Stockholm view threats to their security in the maritime domain in the same way. The existing cooperation between the Polish and Swedish navies, industrial cooperation between Saab and Polish entities, and the fact that both nations are members of the European Union and NATO, form solid foundations for further Polish-Swedish strategic cooperation in maritime security.

One natural consequence of the growing Polish-Swedish partnership in the area of security should be increased technological cooperation, as it enhances the interoperability of armed forces and strengthens their logistical and industrial security. The transfer of technology and knowledge, the involvement of local companies in the implementation of defence programmes, and their integration into the global supply chain are the key elements of Saab’s business philosophy and its central approach towards Poland. It is important to emphasise that the strategic technological cooperation between Saab and Polish companies is part of a broader proposal for cooperation between Sweden and Poland. The deteriorating security situation in the Baltic Sea region, as well as in Central and Northern Europe, means that Polish-Swedish cooperation in the field of defence will have a positive impact on the entire region. Poland is one of Sweden’s most important security partners.

Poland and Sweden, facing similar geopolitical challenges and sharing a common perspective on threats, can jointly take larger responsibility for security in the Baltic Sea area by creating a military-industrial tandem that would ensure NATO forces’ dominance in the Baltic, effectively deterring potential adversaries and contributing to lasting stability in this part of Europe.

The Polish-Swedish industrial cooperation — concerning products designed for all operational domains — fits perfectly with the European Union’s defence industry development plans. Saab, as one of Europe’s largest defence companies, supports the EU’s efforts to strengthen the European industrial base and to achieve independence in the supply of the most advanced weapons systems.