Saab buys submarine equipment provider

August 19, 2025, by Fatima Bahtić

Swedish company Saab has acquired local submarine parts supplier Deform to strengthen the security of supply for the Swedish defense industry.

As informed, Deform has a long and close relationship with Saab as a supplier of speciality parts for Saab’s submarine production and is an important part of Kockums’ supply chain.

Saab’s takeover means continued strong ownership for Deform and long-term stability for its operations, which ensures continued security of supply for Saab and the Swedish defense industry, the company noted.

“Deform has a unique expertise in the shaping of tough and demanding materials. They supply, among other things, to Saab’s ongoing production of the Blekinge-class submarines. We see it as a winning solution for both Kockums and Deform to secure the supply chain and jointly develop more businesses by making Deform part of the Saab family,” said Mats Wicksell, head of Saab’s business area Kockums.

“I am proud and happy that Deform is now part of Saab. This means a continued strong and stable future for our people and our business, where we continue to deliver world-class advanced products to our customers. We will keep the name Deform and our operations will continue in Degerfors, just as before,” added Deform’s CEO Ulrika Jonsson.

To remind, Saab held a keel-laying ceremony for the Swedish Navy’s first Blekinge-class submarine at its shipyard in Karlskrona in 2022.

The Blekinge-class submarines, also designated as A26, will measure 66.1 meters in length with a beam of 6.75 meters. They will displace 1,925 tons.

HMS Blekinge and HMS HMS Skåne will be capable of fielding missiles in addition to the traditional load of mines and torpedoes. The submarines are scheduled to replace the current Gotland-class submarines, for which Saab received a contract to conduct a mid-life upgrade.

HMS Halland, the final submarine in the Gotland class to undergo the upgrade, was launched this February.