The Swedish Government has approved a US request that the Swedish Navy submarine HMS Gotland be allowed to extend its stay in the USA by a further twelve months, to conduct exercises with the US Navy, as well as with the Royal Canadian and Royal Australian Navies.

HMS Gotland has performed extremely well in these joint exercises so far, and has impressed both the experts and the professionals who are monitoring her success. HMS Gotland features advanced stealth technology and is equipped with a Stirling AIP (Air Independent Propulsion) system, developed by Kockums for its submarines. This enables a conventional submarine to remain submerged for weeks at a time, avoiding the need to rise to break surface and risk detection. It is also a silent-running system, generating no vibrations that can be detected by an opponent.

When HMS Gotland last docked at the San Diego naval base, a team of 33 Kockums employees, led by Jörgen Olsson and Peter Thuvesson, were on hand to take care of her and conduct essential maintenance. Californian security and environmental requirements are among the toughest in the world. For this reason, HMS Gotland is placed in the dock in a type of plastic cocoon, designed expressly to protect the environment. The job of servicing her and getting her ready for sea again has been conducted speedily and efficiently, and it will soon be time for her to cast off and head out to sea again to participate in new exercises.