Kockums has received an order from the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) for the continued development of the Stirling Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) system. This particular order, which pertains to the Stirling Mk 3 development project, is worth SEK 50 million. The Stirling Mk 3 system is intended for installation on the ten next-generation submarines that will comprise the pan-Nordic Viking project, a joint venture between Sweden, Denmark and Norway.

The Stirling system is already in service on four Swedish submarines, and is now also being installed on two more. The Stirling system, which has been developed by Kockums over many years, has generated considerable international interest and has already attracted a number of export customers, among them Japan. An air-independent auxiliary propulsion system enables conventional (non-nuclear) submarines to remain submerged, thereby concealing their position, for considerably longer periods than has previously been possible. The Swedish Navy is now having the system installed on all its submarines.
Kockums has also sold Stirling systems to the USA, where they constitute a fundamental element of a solar energy project.