Sweden has awarded the French Naval Group the contract to build four new frigates to bolster its military capabilities in the Baltic Sea. The announcement was made by Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, who described the contract as one of the country's largest military investments in decades.
The program includes the acquisition of FDI-class frigates, next-generation vessels designed for air defense, anti-submarine warfare, and high-intensity operations. According to the Swedish government, the first deliveries could begin as early as 2030, against a backdrop of rising security tensions in Northern Europe since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Enhanced strategic cooperation between Paris and Stockholm
The contract is estimated to be worth around 40 billion Swedish kronor, or more than four billion euros. Stockholm wants to integrate several locally developed weapons systems, notably those developed by the Swedish group Saab, in order to preserve a degree of its industrial and technological sovereignty.
A major strategic success for the French defense industry. Naval Group was competing with British and Spanish bids for this particularly sensitive contract. The Swedish choice illustrates the strengthening of European military cooperation since NATO enlargement and the acceleration of defense spending on the continent.
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