According to Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, this is a “very important international contract in the defense industry”, highlighting Naval Group’s ability to quickly deliver a proven model.
Sweden will purchase four frigates from the French company Naval Group as part of a “very important international contract in the defense industry,” announced Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson on Tuesday, May 19. The contract is estimated at $5 billion, or approximately 4 billion euros.
Indeed, the Swedish radio station asked the Minister of Defense for an approximate price. He replied that this type of frigate costs about 10 billion crowns each, or 910 million euros for each building.
“This is one of the most important transactions since the Jas Gripen [Saab’s fighter plane],” said the Swedish Prime Minister.
A “fully equipped” frigate in 2030
Defense Minister Pål Jonson highlighted three reasons for this decision: the speed of delivery, its reliability, and the fact that the ship will be equipped with an integrated air defense system. The frigates will have the ability to shoot down ballistic missiles, according to the Defense Minister.
Naval Group was preferred over offers from British group Babcock, Spanish Navantia, and Swedish Saab, as Sweden prioritized the quick delivery of a proven and tested frigate model.
“Sweden has chosen the defense and intervention frigate from Naval Group to modernize its navy. I thank Sweden and appreciate the confidence placed in France,” Emmanuel Macron reacted, praising “a major strategic decision.”
To convince Stockholm to award the contract to Naval Group, Paris assured last November that it could provide a “fully equipped” frigate in 2030 to Sweden, which had launched a tender for four such ships it wants to receive by 2035. The French offer was submitted last October.
“This contract is a success for the French group Naval Group, following its setback last year in Norway, which favored British frigates.”
On the other hand, Sweden has significantly increased its defense investments since the start of the war in Ukraine, with its NATO accession in 2024. France, meanwhile, recently concluded several contracts to purchase Swedish equipment, including Global Eye radar planes and Giraffe 1X radars from Saab.
