STOCKHOLM, — May 19, 2026 : The Swedish government has selected French shipbuilder Naval Group to provide the Swedish Navy’s next-generation Luleå-class frigates, choosing the French Frégate de Défense et d’Intervention (FDI) design in a procurement valued at approximately 40 billion Swedish kronor ($4.25 billion).
The announcement was made during a press conference aboard the Visby-class corvette HMS Härnösand at Skeppsbron in Stockholm. The event was attended by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Defense Minister Pål Jonson, and Supreme Commander Michael Claesson.
The procurement represents Sweden’s largest naval defense acquisition in decades and forms part of a broader modernization effort following the country’s accession to NATO. Swedish officials stated that the new frigates will significantly expand the Navy’s air-defense, anti-submarine warfare, and long-range operational capabilities in the Baltic Sea region.
Prime Minister Kristersson described the program as a major step toward strengthening Sweden’s ground- and surface-based air-defense network and transitioning the Swedish Navy from a primarily coastal-defense force into a NATO-integrated maritime force capable of conducting extended regional operations.
Selection Process and Evaluation
The Luleå-class competition involved three European proposals: the Babcock Arrowhead 120, Navantia’s ALFA 4000, and Naval Group’s FDI platform. According to Defense Minister Jonson, the Swedish government selected the FDI design based on delivery speed, platform maturity, and long-term operational efficiency.
The FDI frigate is already in active production at Naval Group’s Lorient shipyard in France. Sweden expects the first vessel to be delivered by 2030, with the remaining three ships scheduled for delivery at a rate of one vessel annually.
Officials stated that the maturity of the FDI design was a key factor in the decision. The platform has already entered service with the French Navy and has also been ordered by Greece, reducing developmental risks compared with competing proposals that would have required additional engineering work.
The Swedish government also emphasized the benefits of joining an existing frigate program, including shared lifecycle support, future upgrades, logistics cooperation, and reduced long-term maintenance costs with other FDI operators.
Evolution of the Luleå-Class Program
The program originally began in 2021 as a Saab-led initiative to develop four enlarged “Visby Generation Two” air-defense corvettes derived from the Visby-class design.
Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and Sweden’s subsequent NATO application, operational requirements changed significantly. The Swedish Navy identified the need for larger surface combatants with improved endurance, vertical launch systems, stronger area air-defense capability, and enhanced interoperability with NATO forces.
In 2023, British shipbuilder Babcock was contracted to support the development of a larger frigate-sized concept. However, between 2024 and 2026, the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) shifted the acquisition strategy toward evaluating existing foreign frigate platforms in order to accelerate deliveries and reduce program risk.
The final requirement settled on a frigate-sized vessel measuring approximately 120 meters in length with a displacement of around 4,000 tonnes.
Supreme Commander Michael Claesson stated that Sweden’s decision not to proceed with the Saab-Babcock proposal would not affect ongoing defense cooperation with the United Kingdom under the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) framework.
Combat Systems and Swedish Integration
Although the Luleå-class will utilize the French hull design and Naval Group’s SETIS combat management system instead of Saab’s traditional 9LV architecture, the ships will incorporate a wide range of Swedish-developed weapons and sensors.
The frigates will be equipped with Saab RBS 15 anti-ship missiles, Torped 47 lightweight anti-submarine torpedoes, Saab Trackfire remote weapon stations, Giraffe 1X radar systems, and BAE Systems Bofors 57 mm and 40 mm naval guns.
For air defense, the vessels will field the Aster 30 long-range surface-to-air missile alongside the CAMM-ER medium-range missile system. Swedish officials noted that the integration of the Aster 30 represents a major increase in capability, as the Swedish Navy has not operated a dedicated naval long-range air-defense missile system since the retirement of the Seacat system in the early 1980s.
The Aster 30 will provide long-range area air defense and limited ballistic missile interception capability, while CAMM-ER missiles will strengthen protection against aircraft, cruise missiles, and precision-guided munitions.
The ships are also expected to support anti-submarine warfare operations optimized for Baltic Sea conditions, with the Torped 47 system specifically designed for shallow-water environments.
Program Timeline and Fleet Role
The four vessels are expected to be named HSwMS Luleå, HSwMS Norrköping, HSwMS Trelleborg, and HSwMS Halmstad. The ships are intended to become the core of Sweden’s future surface fleet and will contribute to NATO maritime operations in Northern Europe and the Baltic region.
The Luleå-class frigates will provide Sweden with expanded fleet air-defense capability, improved anti-submarine warfare performance, and greater operational endurance compared with the current Visby-class corvettes.
With the evaluation phase now concluded, the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration will proceed with final contract negotiations with Naval Group to maintain the planned 2030 delivery schedule for the first vessel.
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