Sweden’s Frigate Decision Looms: France Eyes 2030 for Naval Upgrade

PARIS — Pål Jonson, the Defense Minister of Sweden, anticipates a decision by early next year regarding the nation’s intention to acquire four new frigates. He made this statement on Monday after a discussion with Catherine Vautrin, his French counterpart. The Swedish government is currently awaiting recommendations from its procurement agency FMV and the armed forces, following an evaluation of the available options.

During a press briefing in Stockholm after their talks, the ministers addressed several topics, including the Swedish frigate acquisition program, France’s interest in the Saab GlobalEye airborne early warning system, and ongoing support for Ukraine. Vautrin mentioned that France could deliver a fully armed and equipped frigate by 2030, aligning with Sweden’s timeline for the first frigate delivery.

Jonson commented on the urgency of the frigate program, noting, “We are exploring frigates that meet our needs and fit within our ambitious schedule.” He confirmed that the FMV has concluded a market survey but that a final decision is still pending. “We aim to have two frigates ready by 2030 and another two by 2035,” he said.

He also highlighted the significance of the air-defense capabilities of the new frigates, which would mark a step towards integrating Sweden into NATO’s Integrated Air and Missile Defence system.

In May 2024, Sweden announced a shift in its strategy to procure surface combatants, with the FMV revealing that the new ships would be larger than the existing Visby-class corvettes. Sweden is open to considering existing designs rather than a completely indigenous solution.

In October, France proposed its Naval Group’s FDI frigate to Sweden and suggested a collaboration with the Swedish defense industry, particularly Saab. This offer presents a new opportunity for Naval Group to market its unique frigate design featuring an inverted bow, especially after Norway chose the British Type 26 frigate over the French option earlier this year.

The FDI frigate is particularly noted for its anti-air capabilities, equipped with Thales’ Sea Fire radar for long-range air defense and 16 to 32 vertical-launch cells capable of firing MBDA Aster 15 and 30 missiles. In contrast, the primary function of the Type 26 is focused on anti-submarine warfare.

The French Navy recently accepted its first FDI frigate, the Amiral Ronarc’h, in October, the first in a series of five planned vessels. Earlier this month, the Hellenic Navy signed a contract for a fourth FDI frigate, in addition to three currently under construction.

Vautrin shared that the Amiral Ronarc’h is scheduled to visit the Swedish port city of Göteborg at the beginning of next year.

The Defense and Intervention Frigate by Naval Group measures 122 meters in length and displaces approximately 4,500 tons, making it smaller than the new-generation frigates under construction or in planning stages in countries like Spain, the United States, Italy, and Germany.

The discussions also covered Saab’s GlobalEye, which France is keenly interested in as it looks to replace its existing equipment. “GlobalEye is an attractive option for surveillance purposes, and France is poised to make some announcements regarding this,” Vautrin noted. France currently operates four Boeing E-3F planes for the AWACS role and signed a letter of intent in June concerning the GlobalEye.

France aims to strengthen its relationship with Sweden, aspiring to be a partner rather than merely a client. “We are moving towards acquiring programs like the GlobalEye in this collaborative spirit,” Vautrin expressed, hoping that Sweden could similarly engage in the frigate program.

Additionally, Jonson and Vautrin discussed providing aid to Ukraine, noting that the intentions by Ukraine to acquire Saab’s Gripen and Dassault Aviation’s Rafale are complementary. “Ukraine has been clear from the start about maintaining a mixed fleet of around 250 aircraft,” Jonson explained. “While these are currently just letters of intent, they represent a strong political commitment from both sides to make this a reality.”

Jonson also mentioned that Europe’s interest lies in ensuring Ukraine possesses a robust air-defense capability. Both ministers agreed on the timely use of immobilized Russian assets to support Ukraine, especially in maintaining security even after a ceasefire or peace agreement. “These agreements should be viewed in this context,” Vautrin concluded.