Sweden has selected France’s Naval Group to supply four new frigates in a major defence contract worth approximately €4 billion, marking one of the largest military investments by the Nordic country in decades.
Anounced today by the Swedish government, the deal sees Stockholm acquiring four FDI (Frégate de Défense et d’Intervention) vessels — also known as the Amiral Ronarc’h class — for its new Luleå-class programme.
The ships will significantly boost Sweden’s naval capabilities in the Baltic Sea as a newly minted NATO member.
This major Franco-Swedish deal comes amid broader European efforts to strengthen collective defence industrial capacity and reduce reliance on non-European suppliers.
The contract covers four vessels with deliveries starting in 2030 and the final ships expected by 2035.
Each frigate is estimated to cost just over 10 billion Swedish crowns (around €900 million), depending on the specific weapons and systems configuration.
“I thank Sweden and I recognize the trust placed in France”, French President Emmanuel Macron said in a reaction.
“Our partnership has indeed continued to strengthen in recent years, up to Sweden’s participation in advanced deterrence. A strong and sovereign Europe within NATO: that is our vision of our defense and our shared security. It is built every day.”
La Suède a fait le choix de la frégate de défense et d'intervention de Naval Group pour moderniser sa marine.
Je remercie la Suède et je mesure la confiance faite à la France.
Après le choix fait par la France de se doter du Global Eye de Saab pour renouveler sa flotte d'avions…
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) May 19, 2026
The programme will triple Sweden’s air defence capacity at sea and represents its first acquisition of large surface combatants since the 1980s.
The FDI frigates are already in service with the French Navy and were previously ordered by Greece.
Sweden passed over competing bids from the United Kingdom (Babcock, in partnership with Saab) and Spain (Navantia).
Speed of delivery was reportedly a decisive factor, as the French design is a proven, off-the-shelf platform.
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson described the purchase as Sweden’s biggest military investment since the Cold War era, driven by heightened security concerns in the Baltic region following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The choice has been welcomed in Paris as a concrete example of “Buy European” cooperation in defence.
French officials highlighted the deal as proof of growing trust between the two countries, especially after France previously acquired Swedish GlobalEye surveillance aircraft.
Industrial offsets and cooperation with Swedish firms, including Saab, are expected as part of the package as the frigates will combine French air defence systems with Swedish sensors and weaponry.
Some Swedish voices have expressed disappointment that a stronger domestic or Nordic solution was not chosen, but the government prioritised rapid delivery and capability over purely national production.
NATO forces intercepted a suspected Russian drone heading toward France’s 800-foot-long aircraft carrier, the Charles de Gaulle. https://t.co/YvVtoGKrsO
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) February 27, 2026
