Sweden will purchase four next-generation frigates from the French naval group Naval Group for 4.3 billion euros, in an agreement that includes weaponry and training, representing the country's largest military investment since the 1980s. The contract was signed this Monday during Emmanuel Macron's visit to Sweden, with the presence of Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and the director generals of FMV (Swedish Defence Materiel Administration) and Naval Group.
The agreement includes the acquisition of FDI frigates (Defence and Intervention), with capabilities for anti-aircraft combat, transport of air defense missiles capable of intercepting ballistic missiles, torpedoes, and long-range cruise missiles. The first frigate is expected to be delivered in 2030, and the contract also includes a framework agreement for strategic cooperation in the defense area between the two countries, as well as a long-term industrial partnership with technology transfer to Swedish companies.
The purchase comes in the context of Sweden's recent accession to NATO and aims to reinforce the country's defense capability against growing Russian threats in the Nordic region and the Baltic Sea. The Stockholm executive advocated for closer cooperation with France, including support for Ukraine and combating Russian hybrid threats. The president of Naval Group, Pierre Éric Pommellet, considered the contract an important milestone in cooperation between the two countries, noting that the group is fully committed to the project's completion.
