Naval Group began construction of the Royal Swedish Navy’s first defence and intervention frigate (FDI), Luleå, with a steel-cutting ceremony at its Lorient shipyard in France on Thursday, October 1.
The ceremony followed the August 31 signing of a contract for four FDI frigates between Naval Group and Sweden’s Defence Materiel Administration (FMV).
France’s Ministry of the Armed Forces says the first vessel is due in 2030, and the other three are scheduled by 2034.
Naval Group said its Lorient production line can deliver two FDI frigates annually. A total of 13 have been ordered for three NATO navies: five for France and four each for Greece and Sweden. The company also reported that new delivery slots remain available in 2030.
The Swedish programme will include a structured, long-term industrial partnership involving transfers of know-how and technology to several Swedish partners, the company said.
Sweden announced its selection of the FDI in May. The Swedish Government said choosing a programme already in production was intended to minimise delivery time. The four ships will form the navy’s Luleå class.
The French ministry expects the acquisition to triple the Swedish Navy’s air-defence capabilities and contribute to NATO integrated air and missile defence.
The FDI is a 4,500-tonne platform with air-defence, anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare capabilities.