On February 13, the Swedish submarine “HMS Halland” was launched after extensive modernization at the Saab-shipyard in Karlskrona – for the first time since it entered service in 1996. HMS Halland is the third and last Gotland-class submarine to be upgraded. New technologies and systems, which will also be used in the future Blekinge-class submarines, have been integrated into the submarines.
The launch is an important step for Sweden’s submarine capabilities. The upgrade means that “HMS Halland” will be able to perform maritime tasks with new capabilities for many years to come, just like her sister submarines “HMS Gotland” and “HMS Uppland”, which have already received similar modifications halfway through their service life.
“HMS Halland has undergone a mid-term modification where we have added a new section and lengthened the submarine by two meters,” explained Ulf Pernholt, Project Manager at FMV. “We have also replaced, upgraded and installed almost 200 different components and systems on board so that ‘HMS Halland’ is now state of the art and will be able to operate in the Baltic Sea and neighboring areas for many years to come.”
Tests before delivery
For almost three years, the submarine has been in the hull hall at the shipyard in Karlskrona, where a general overhaul was carried out in addition to the mid-term modification. The launch now marks the start of a new project phase in which the Swedish Procurement Agency (FMV) will test and inspect the new systems before the submarine is delivered to the Swedish armed forces. The aim of the tests is to ensure that the systems function properly and meet the requirements of the armed forces.
“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 modern submarines with the capabilities required by the Swedish Navy,” said Mats Wicksell, Head of Saab’s Kockums business area. “With the submarine, the Swedish Navy and thus also NATO additional strike capability for defense and surveillance of the Baltic Sea.”
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