Saab relaunches third and final Gotland-class submarine after MLU

HSwMS Halland is the final Gotland-class submarine to receive an MLU that aims to keep the class of three boats in service out to at least 2030. (Royal Swedish Navy)

Saab has relaunched the Royal Swedish Navy's third Gotland (Type A 19)-class diesel-electric submarine (SSK), HSwMS Halland, following the completion of its mid-life upgrade (MLU) programme, the company announced on 13 February.

Halland is the final Type A 19 submarine in the class to receive its MLU, which was carried out at Saab's Kockums shipyard facility in Karlskrona under a SEK1.1 billion (then valued at USD116 million) contract awarded in March 2022.

The work, which included a major platform overhaul and upgrade of the combat system, will enable Halland to remain in service to around 2030.

The Royal Swedish Navy's three Gotland-class SSKs were built by Kockums between 1990 and 1997. The first two boats in class, HSwMS Gotland and HSwMS Uppland , completed their overhauls under a SEK2.1 billion contract awarded to Saab in June 2015. Halland was refitted in 2014–15 to be available while the other boats underwent their MLUs.

Gotland began its refit in late 2015, was relaunched in June 2018, and returned to service in the second half of 2019. Uppland began its refit in 2016, was relaunched in June 2019, and returned to service in 2020.