Saab Signs Raft of Agreements Deepening European Defence Ties

Saab has signed a series of new agreements with British and Polish firms, according to press releases from the week of 1st September, reinforcing its presence and collaboration within the European defence industry. The deals focus on enhancing naval, underwater, and aerial capabilities for allied nations, as well as support for Ukraine.

Saab x PGZ Group

At the MSPO defence industry exhibition in Kielce, Poland, Saab signed agreements with two prominent Polish defence companies: the PGZ Group and the WB Group.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the PGZ Group, Poland’s largest defence corporation, will explore collaborative projects across air, land, and naval domains. The companies will also evaluate joint initiatives to support Ukraine, including cooperation with the Ukrainian defence industry.

Saab is already a prime contractor on the ORP Jerzy Różycki, Poland’s first signals intelligence ship, which was launched back in July this year. The company has also offered the Blekinge-class (A26) submarine for Poland’s Orka programme, which aims to procure a new fleet of submarines to replace the last Soviet-era Kilo-class in service. 

A separate agreement with the WB Group will focus on potential joint work on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), naval solutions, and border protection systems. The WB Group has provided many drones to Ukraine since the war started, which has resulted in several cycles of innovation to refine its products in response to the prevailing conditions. “Partnering with WB Group enables us to share expertise and scale up innovation to deliver cutting-edge solutions for national security,” says Micael Johansson, President and CEO of Saab.

Like PGZ, the WB Group is one of the lead docking points for cooperation with the Polish industry. It signed a joint venture with Hanwha in April to manufacture long-range guided missiles for the Chunmoo Homar-K multiple rocket launcher in Poland, for example. 

Saab x JFD Global

In a separate agreement announced on September 3, Saab has partnered with JFD Global, a British company specialising in marine and defence solutions. This strategic cooperation aims to enhance naval capabilities, focusing on Swedish and international customers.

The partnership will involve collaboration on Swedish underwater programs and submarine rescue solutions. It also extends to technology development in the underwater battlespace domain. JFD Global has supported the Royal Swedish Navy’s submarine rescue vehicle, URF, since 2010.

“Saab has entered a Strategic Cooperation Agreement with JFD to bring together complementary expertise with initial focus on submarine rescue systems,” Joakim Mevius, Head of BU Submarines at Saab Kockums said. Saab Kockums is building two of the Blekinge-class (A26) submarines for the Royal Swedish Navy, which may be one of the drivers for the JFD partnership.

Calibre comment

Partnerships help companies develop new products and reach new markets, or provide more tailored solutions to existing customers. It is a common route for defence companies as many modern systems are so advanced that it is not possible for one entity to hold all of the technology and expertise within its own organisation. 

By Sam Cranny-Evans, published on September 7, 2025. Credit for the lead image is Saab. It shows, from left to right, Adam Leszkiewicz President of The PGZ Management Board, Micael Johansson, President and CEO of Saab, and Jan Grabowski, Vice President of the PGZ Management Board.