Sweden Orders 4 French Frigates in Largest Defense Buy in Decades

(MENAFN) Sweden is set to acquire four advanced frigates from French defense giant Naval Group, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson announced Tuesday — marking one of the most significant military expenditures the Nordic nation has undertaken in a generation.

The vessels are the ships that "best meet the Swedish requirements," Kristersson told a news conference, according to a Swedish broadcaster.

The FDI-class frigates will deliver a sweeping upgrade to Sweden's naval and air defense arsenal, equipping the country with enhanced capabilities against fighter jets and ballistic missiles alike. Kristersson framed the acquisition's scale in historical terms, describing it as "one of the biggest defense investments" since the Gripen — a light single-engine supersonic multirole fighter aircraft — was introduced in the 1980s. He further noted that the purchase would triple Sweden's existing anti-aircraft capacity.

"With this decision, I am convinced that Sweden is now contributing to making the Baltic Sea significantly safer in the future," he added.

Commander-in-Chief Michael Claesson underlined the broader strategic value of the fleet, stating the frigates would sharpen Sweden's ability to contribute to NATO operations well beyond the Baltic theater.

Speed of delivery proved decisive in the selection process. Defense Minister Pal Jonson pointed to Naval Group's ready-made ship design as a critical advantage, enabling a faster procurement timeline than competing alternatives.

Formal negotiations between Swedish and French authorities are expected to commence shortly, with deliveries slated to begin in 2030 at a rate of one frigate annually, the broadcaster reported. Each vessel carries an estimated price tag of approximately 10 billion Swedish kronor — upward of $1 billion per ship.

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