Naval Group has begun construction of the Swedish Navy’s first Frégate de Défense et d’Intervention (FDI) frigate by cutting the first steel at its Lorient shipyard in France. The milestone follows Stockholm’s signing of a 47-billion-kronor ($4.6-billion) contract only one month earlier for four multirole frigates intended to strengthen Sweden’s maritime and air-defense capabilities in the Baltic region.The lead vessel, HMS Luleå, is scheduled for delivery in 2030. Three additional ships—Norrköping, Trelleborg and Halmstad—are planned for delivery between 2032 and 2034.Sweden becomes the third NATO member to select France’s indigenous FDI design, after France and Greece. Its acquisition raises the total FDI production program to 13 surface combatants. Naval Group currently maintains an assembly line capable of producing two frigates annually and plans to establish a long-term industrial relationship with Swedish suppliers to support the ships throughout their service lives.The FDI is designed to conduct air-defense, anti-submarine and anti-surface missions. It incorporates Naval Group’s inverted bow and Setis combat management system. Swedish ships will also receive Saab lightweight torpedoes, RBS15 anti-ship missiles and BAE Systems Bofors naval guns, alongside Aster 30 and CAMM-ER air-defense missiles.The frigates will measure 122 meters (400 feet) in length and 18 meters (59 feet) across the beam, with crews exceeding 125 sailors. Each vessel will accommodate a helicopter similar to the NH90 and an unmanned aerial system for autonomous operations. Twin MTU 16V 8000 M91L engines producing a combined 43,000 horsepower will provide a maximum speed of 26 knots (48 kilometers/30 miles per hour), a range of 5,000 nautical miles (9,260 kilometers/5,754 miles) and 45 days of endurance.
