Our main production hub.

Today you will have an exclusive sneak peek of our shipyard.

First, you need to know that a submarine

is based on systems of systems and major components.

And we divide the submarine in production in five sections.

Let's take a look at an example.

The aft section of the new Blekinge-class submarine.

It encompasses a large number of components and systems.

The total weight of this section is more than 50 tonnes.

The whole pressure hull measures approximately six metres in diameter.

To fit in all the details, we are working with tolerances of fractions of a millimetre.

All parts are made to measure based on our 3D design.

When it comes to precision, making a submarine is as complex as building a space vessel.

It therefore requires development and production capabilities that you won't find in so many places.

This is a unique shipyard that meets all of those requirements.

Since Saab's acquisition of Kockums in 2014,

we have done a complete makeover of the shipyard.

The workforce in Karlskrona has tripled.

Today, you will meet almost 1,000 proud shipbuilders.

Increasing diversity has been a key word during recruitment.

There are new buildings and capabilities such as an entire surface treatment hall.

Here, we can work on a quarter of a submarine at a time.

Cleaning and painting in a controlled environment is essential to reduce the effects of corrosion.

You might think of a submarine as a huge mass of steel.

But actually most of the beauty is inside this big cylinder.

One of the shipyard's unique production methods

is the fitting of systems and key components on large platforms outside the pressure hull.

The parts, systems and equipment are first mounted on the platforms

both above and below the floor.

They are then set to work, tested and verified before everything is slid into the finished hull.

You can look at a submarine as a perfect cylinder.

But in one Blekinge-class submarine this cylinder covers approximately 10,000 unique pipes and tubes.

These pipes and tubes are used for different types of liquids and gases

ranging from seawater to fuel, liquid oxygen and fresh air.

They are all vital for life underwater and key to the resilience of the submarine.

They need to be flexible to withstand high pressure and shocks from detonations.

A broken or leaking pipe can jeopardise the entire vessel and life on board.

We have invested in equipment to pre-manufacture two-thirds of all the pipes and tubes needed.

As in most modern production facilities,

the supply of components is essential,

on time and with the right quality.

We have integrated and optimised the flow of components in the shipyard:

from quality control to warehousing, distribution and documentation.

One of the most visible signs of the complete makeover of the shipyard

is what we have done related to working conditions.

Here, we are talking about the light and the climate in all of the production halls.

One of the most important investments we have made both in Karlskrona and Malmö

is to increase the engineering power of the company.

That means recruitment of new competences,

new processes,

as well as an increased flow of digital information from engineering to production.

The benefits are valid throughout the entire life cycle of the submarine.

In the production environment, we use rugged, robust computer stations.

Another key characteristic of the shipyard and Swedish submarine development is what we call the evolutionary approach.

So what does that mean?

Let's take an example.

The optronic mast replaces the traditional periscope on the Gotland-class submarines.

In recent years, this is one of the components that has been fitted first on existing submarines

as part of a mid-life upgrade.

It will also be an important evolution of the Blekinge-class submarine

together with 20 other major components.

We are not only building a new shipyard,

we are also welcoming a whole new generation of shipbuilders.

Building on the experience and knowledge of the past using the tools of tomorrow.

In the process since 2014 we have improved the entire shipyard.

Better work environment, sustainability focus and also an improved way of working.

And, of course, new buildings and equipment.

Thank you for joining me on this tour.

We are proud shipbuilders.