Saab launches HMS Halland submarine after mid-life upgrade

On Thursday 13 February, the submarine HMS Halland was launched after a comprehensive mid-life upgrade at Saab’s shipyard in Karlskrona. HMS Halland is the third and final submarine in the Gotland class to undergo the upgrade, which includes new technologies and systems of the same type that will be used in upcoming Blekingeclass submarines. The launch marks an important step in Sweden’s submarine capability. The upgrade means that HMS Halland will be able to carry out maritime missions for many years to come with new capabilities, alongside her sister submarines HMS Gotland and HMS Uppland which have previously undergone similar mid-life modifications. “Securing critical underwater infrastructure and sea lanes is more important than ever. The launch of HMS Halland is a testament to Saab’s ability to upgrade and deliver advanced submarines with the capabilities the Swedish Navy requires. With HMS Halland, the Swedish Navy, and by extension NATO, is given additional muscle to defend and monitor the Baltic Sea,” says Mats Wicksell, Head of Saab’s Business Area Kockums. Submarines play a vital strategic role in defence and can be used across the entire conflict spectrum, from peace to war. HMS Halland’s ability to operate covertly with great endurance makes it a valuable asset in the Baltic Sea, where the layered waters make it particularly difficult to detect submarines. During the modification, more than twenty of the central systems in HMS Halland were replaced, including sensors and command systems. These systems are the same as those that will be used in the Blekinge-class submarines (A26). For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Kym Bergmann at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Group Sales Director Simon Hadfield at [email protected]