Stockholm has finalized a major naval procurement agreement with France’s Naval Group for four FDI frigates in a deal valued at roughly 47 billion Swedish kronor ($4.8 billion). The vessels are part of Sweden’s effort to develop the future Luleå-class fleet and strengthen its maritime and air-defense posture in the Baltic region. The agreement was formally signed aboard Amiral Ronarc’h (D660), the French Navy’s first FDI frigate, while the ship was in Stockholm. French President Emmanuel Macron and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson attended the ceremony. Sweden plans to name the four new warships Luleå, Norrköping, Trelleborg, and Halmstad, all after Swedish coastal cities. Deliveries from France are scheduled to take place annually from 2030 through 2034. The procurement represents an important expansion of Sweden’s naval capabilities following its entry into NATO in 2024. The new frigates are expected to provide enhanced maritime security and air-defense capabilities in the Baltic Sea, where the regional security environment has been affected by the war in Ukraine. Kristersson emphasized the importance of countering contemporary missile threats, citing the conflict as an example of the changing character of warfare. The agreement also goes beyond the construction of four ships by establishing a broader foundation for defense-industrial cooperation between Sweden and France. Included in the procurement are anti-ballistic interceptors, cruise missiles, torpedoes, and training associated with the systems. Each future Luleå-class frigate will be 122 meters (400 feet) long and 18 meters (59 feet) wide. The ships will carry more than 125 sailors and will support a rotary-wing aircraft similar to the NH90 together with an unmanned aerial system. Their combat-management architecture will use Naval Group’s proprietary Setis system, supported by a collection of sensors, digital communications and navigation systems, and electronic warfare capabilities. Armament will consist of surface-to-air and anti-ship missiles, lightweight torpedoes, and 57mm and 40mm naval guns. The frigates will be capable of exceeding 26 knots, or 48 kilometers (30 miles) per hour. Their stated endurance includes a 5,000-nautical-mile range, equivalent to 9,260 kilometers (5,754 miles), while they can remain deployed continuously for up to 45 days. Propulsion will come from two MTU 16V 8000 M91L engines producing a combined 43,000 horsepower.
