Documents
Sweden Saab AB
Gotland-class
A Swedish diesel-electric attack submarine class notable as the world's first to enter service with Stirling-engine air-independent propulsion, allowing extended submerged endurance without snorkeling. One boat was leased to the US Navy for years of anti-submarine warfare training against its exceptionally quiet signature.
In service since 1996 · 1 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
200
m depth
20
kn
6,000
nmi
1,600
t
25
crew
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
Swedish export-licensed
ISP licensing; EU/Wassenaar controls.
Channel: Direct commercial / G2G
Fielded & proven
Limited · 1 operator
In service since 1996. Status: active · ~3 built.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
No public unit price to model from. Why so few systems publish one →
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Compatible munitions & weapons
Publicly reported weapons the Gotland-class can carry. Linked items have a full spec page.
Full specifications
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
| Torpedo tubes Number of torpedo tubes (submarines and some surface ships). | 4 |
|---|
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable. | 60.4 m |
|---|
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Units built Total production run. Higher means proven manufacturing, mature logistics and spares availability. | 3 |
|---|---|
| Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem. | 1 |
Specifications compiled from public Saab AB and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
Compare with rivals
See how it stacks up
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Gotland-class vs
Type 212A 
Kilo-class (Project 636.3) Frequently asked questions
How many countries operate the Saab AB Gotland-class? +
The Saab AB Gotland-class is operated by 1 countries.
Similar systems
Related coverage
Gotland-class in the news
News procurement · Aug 2, 2026
Poland's Saab Submarine Deal Moves to Crew Training This Month
Polish submariners begin training in August on a borrowed Swedish boat while Saab builds three A26 Blekinge-class submarines for Poland.
Article guide · Jul 24, 2026
Five Nuclear Subs Publish the Exact Same 25 Knots
Nuclear boats average 26.5 knots submerged, conventional boats 20.2, but the published number understates the real divide. Here is what submerged speed hides.