Luleå-class frigate

In January 2021 Saab Kockums was awarded a contract for the product definition phase of the Visby gen 2 corvettes by the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV). These ships were intended to be an evolved version of the Visby-class corvettes currently in service with the Swedish Navy. However, a rapidly changing geopolitical situation in large part due to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine and Sweden's subsequent application to join NATO led to the cancellation of the Visby gen 2 in favour of a clean sheet design, the Luleå class.^[9][10][11]

As the Swedish Navy wants the Luleå class built and commissioned quickly. In 2021 FMV awarded Saab Kockums a contract to study the design of five new corvettes in Sweden. A similar arrangement was also used for the construction of HSwMS Artemis.^[11][12] By 2023, however, the program’s requirements were revised to be closer to a frigate: the future ships would need extended endurance at sea, increased size (120 metres versus 72 metres for the Visby), and enhanced multi-domain capabilities, including anti-drone operations. These changes led to a reduction in the planned fleet from five to four vessels. The product definition phase was scheduled to conclude by mid-2025, with deliveries of the first units expected from 2030. In May 2024 Saab signed a contract with British shipbuilder Babcock for the design of the future ship class based on the Type 31 frigate.^[13][14] But the collaboration has reportedly yielded limited results, opening the door for alternative solutions. In June 2025 France and Sweden signed a defence roadmap as Naval Group positions the FDI for Swedish surface ship programme.^[15][16][17]

On 24 November 2025, Swedish Defence Minister Pål Jonson announced that Sweden would choose a supplier for the four Luleå-class frigates in early 2026.^[18] Four firms are in competition for the program: Saab, Naval Group, Babcock, and Navantia (with the last three of them offering an already existing design adapted for Swedish requirements). In early 2026 both Spain and France sent warships to Sweden showing off their concepts for the future Luleå class.^[19][20] On 10 February 2026 Naval group signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Swedish shipyard Oresund Drydocks AB for future maintenance and service support for Swedish naval vessels.^[21]

On 19 May 2026, the Swedish government announced it would buy the four FDI frigates from French company Naval Group, citing the speed of delivery as a key factor in its decision.^[22]

The Luleå class will be the largest ships in service with the Swedish Navy at over 120 metres (390 ft) long. Increased range and endurance will be important factors. The ships will primarily be armed with surface-to-air missiles.^[11] Although the ships will be built by Naval Group in France they will be fitted with many Swedish weapon systems and sensors like the Robot 15, Giraffe 1X radar, SAAB Trackfire remote weapon stations and Torped 47.^[28] The Swedish ships will swap the Oto Melara 76 mm on the French and Greek versions of FDI class for a Bofors 57 mm gun. It will also be equipped with a Bofors 40 mm gun and MBDA CAMM-ER missiles for improved air defence.^[29] They will also be serviced and maintained in Sweden.^[30]