Sweden’s decision on four new warships inches closer as it eyes UK, France and Spain
The Royal Swedish Navy currently operates five Visby-class corvettes. (Photo: Jimmie Adamsson/The Swedish Armed Forces)
Sweden decided last year that it wanted a significantly larger warship for its Luleå Class programme than originally planned, with three likely contenders that could potentially deliver within the country’s tight schedule.
Earlier this week, Swedish Minister of Defence Pål Jonson confirmed that the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) was likely to make a final decision on its four Luleå-class vessels in the early part of 2026, with an aim of getting the first two frigates into service by 2030, followed by two more in 2035.
Jonson’s comments on the programme’s “ambitious timeline” came shortly after a meeting with Catherine Vautrin, France’s Minister of the Armed Forces, following on from France’s Naval Group offering its Frégate de Défense et d’Intervention (FDI) last month.
The Royal Swedish Navy (RSwN) currently operates five
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Will the US Navy surge production for OTH-WS missile?]()
Will the US Navy surge production for OTH-WS missile?
The USN is conducting a market search seeking additional sources capable of supplying 516 units of Over the Horizon – Weapons System Encanistered Missiles.
-
![How will SAFE shape naval procurement for Canada and its highest-receiving members?]()
How will SAFE shape naval procurement for Canada and its highest-receiving members?
Canada’s inclusion on the EU’s Security Action for Europe initiative is set to enhance the country’s defence procurement strategy with important implications for some of its naval programmes, while Poland and Romania have also secured significant SAFE funding.
-
![Thales wins DE&S contract for portable autonomous command centres]()
Thales wins DE&S contract for portable autonomous command centres
The agreement to provide portable autonomous command centres to the UK Royal Navy will enhance the service’s Mine Counter Measure operations and further integrate autonomous and uncrewed systems into its fleet.
-
![Maritime defence in the Mediterranean faces challenges from vulnerable land power]()
Maritime defence in the Mediterranean faces challenges from vulnerable land power
As an indispensable energy crossroads, the Mediterranean is at serious risk from grey zone disruption. As navies increasingly employ AI data centres, what happens when cutting-edge defence technologies rely on the very infrastructure most susceptible to hybrid tactics?
