Gotland-Class: The Tiny and Cheap Stealth Sub That ‘Sank’ a Navy Aircraft Carrier

Gotland-Class: The Tiny and Cheap Stealth Sub That ‘Sank’ a Navy Aircraft Carrier

Key Points and Summary – Swedish defense firm Saab builds some of the world’s most effective non-nuclear submarines, a reputation cemented in 2005 when a Gotland-class submarine managed to “sink” the USS Ronald Reagan during an exercise. The key to their success is Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP), which allows for exceptionally silent and extended submerged operations. The U.S. Navy was so impressed that it leased a Gotland sub for two years to…