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[Nilgiri]

Sweden Considers French Defense Frigates to Strengthen Naval Power in Baltic Sea

Sweden Considers French Defense Frigates to Strengthen Naval Power in Baltic Sea

armyrecognition.com

The intensification of strategic ties between France and Sweden recently materialized in a new step forward in their bilateral military cooperation. During the Paris Air Show, French Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu and his Swedish counterpart Pål Jonson signed a roadmap outlining future collaborative efforts in several key areas. This builds on the renewed strategic partnership agreed upon in January 2024.

The roadmap aims to strengthen Franco-Swedish industrial and capability cooperation in areas such as ground-based air defense, aerial surveillance, and precision weaponry. According to the French Ministry of the Armed Forces, this cooperation framework reflects a shared ambition to support the development of a credible European defense structure. It highlights several existing joint projects, including shared use of military equipment such as the NH90 helicopter, the BONUS artillery shell, the AT4F2 anti-tank rocket, and the BvS10 high-mobility vehicle. The partnership has now expanded with the signing of a contract for the procurement of Akeron MP missiles from MBDA by Sweden’s Defence Materiel Administration (FMV), alongside a letter of intent for acquiring Saab’s GlobalEye airborne surveillance system.

In this context, France’s procurement agency DGA is set to enter contractual negotiations to purchase at least two GlobalEye systems to replace the E-3F SDCA (AWACS) aircraft of the French Air and Space Force by 2035. Additionally, discussions between Paris and Stockholm include potential cooperation in medium-range air defense based on the Aster missile, despite Sweden's current reliance on American Patriot systems. However, the most notable development in this framework relates to naval capabilities, with France officially offering its Defense and Intervention Frigate (FDI), known as the Ronarc’h class, for Sweden’s next-generation surface combatant program.

This proposal may alter the course of Sweden’s previously launched program to replace the Visby-class corvettes. In January 2021, FMV awarded Saab Kockums a contract to study the design of five new corvettes, designated the Luleå class. By 2023, however, the program’s requirements were revised: the future ships would need extended endurance at sea, increased size (120 meters versus 72 meters 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. A strategic partnership was established in May 2024 with British firm Babcock to support the program, but the collaboration has reportedly yielded limited results, opening the door for alternative solutions.

In this context, Stockholm’s interest in the Ronarc’h-class frigate appears consistent with its updated operational needs. The French frigate aligns closely with FMV’s technical specifications and benefits from an advanced production timeline, as it is already entering service with the French Navy. Sweden has previously accepted foreign construction of hulls, such as for the intelligence ship HSwMS Artemis, provided that the weapons integration is carried out domestically in Karlskrona. This condition could be met by Naval Group, which has the industrial capacity to produce two FDI frigates per year at its Lorient shipyard, potentially meeting the Swedish Navy’s timeline.

Designed as a first-rank warship, the Ronarc’h-class frigate has a displacement of approximately 4,500 tons and a length of 122 meters. It is equipped with a KingKlip Mk2 hull-mounted sonar and a CAPTAS-4 towed sonar, the SENTINEL electronic warfare suite, and the Aquilon integrated naval communication system. Its open digital architecture allows continuous system upgrades in line with technological and operational developments. The ship features 16 Sylver A50 vertical launch cells capable of deploying Aster 15 and Aster 30 surface-to-air missiles, a 76 mm main gun, two remotely operated 20 mm guns, MU90 lightweight torpedoes, and Exocet anti-ship missiles. It can also accommodate a combat helicopter and several unmanned aerial vehicles, providing multi-domain operational capacity in projection, strike, and surveillance roles.

France’s proposal to supply Sweden with FDI frigates represents a concrete development in their strategic defense relationship. As the war in Ukraine continues to reshape European security priorities, this Franco-Swedish partnership, rooted in capability-based cooperation, reflects a broader effort to structure a cohesive European defense pillar where industrial compatibility and operational interoperability converge.

 

[Nilgiri]

A look into the FDI frigate:

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@Anmdt et al,

It is interesting but makes sense the Swedes are attracted to a smaller hull/tonnage for more confined waters that packs more of a punch compared to the type 31 (especially the RN variant which has relatively low armament and relatively mid tier sensoring for its tonnage....though this was all due to keeping prices down while having a hull for future growth etc). Being based off the Iver Huitfeldt does give Type 31 a lot of room to grow apparently.

Maybe a Swedish version of the Type 31 would have ended up looking more like the Polish version in development now, the list of requirements looks a lot closer to that one. Procurement/timeline wise the Polish version is even further from service than the RN ones (the first hull only started construction a couple of months ago)

Trade-off with the FDI compared to something like the Type 31 is of course future growth, but Swedes probably assigned lower priority to that compared to procurement need and immediate armament+sensoring / tonnage ratio....and also French acquiring Swedish AWACs platform instead of the wedgetail like rest of NATO (economy of scale w.r.t US decision earlier for E-7 wedgetail)

Your thoughts if any?

 

[Anmdt]

It is interesting but makes sense the Swedes are attracted to a smaller hull/tonnage for more confined waters that packs more of a punch compared to the type 31 (especially the RN variant which has relatively low armament and relatively mid tier sensoring for its tonnage....though this was all due to keeping prices down while having a hull for future growth etc). Being based off the Iver Huitfeldt does give Type 31 a lot of room to grow apparently.​

The last line is my favorite spot on, Type 31, it has enormous volumetric space that allows it to be used in multiple secondary duties (and mostly with ease of convertion), future USV integration, USV bays et al, or even evacuation, disaster management duties, medical support.

FDI has a cross-connect enabled diesel+gas turbine propulsion, gas turbines are mostly chosen for highly maneuverable ships (count in the acceleration). With diesel engines we are limited to stepped engine speeds where an engine needs warming up, before going high, in scenarios which ship may require additional power, a diesel+diesel propulsion will be less preferred. This comes two ended; a larger ship has more space to accommodate engine, thus can utilize diesel only propulsion both with fuel efficiency, and exhaust cooling; while a smaller vessel has no option but to go far gas turbine, low efficiency at moderate speeds,and an exhaust with cooling mechanism.

FDI is small, maneuverable, but it lacks the capability for secondary duties (at least, in a level that Type 31, or AH140 can readily support). So this is a decision to be made beforehand, if they are seeking for shallow water operations FDI is a nobrainer (in that setting).​

 

[Nilgiri]

NOTE: FMV (Försvarets materielverk) is the Swedish govt (mil) procurement agency: https://www.fmv.se/english/about-fmv/


Swedish sensor chain recently published, was forwarded to me without source(s) (some may have been in Swedish etc) so TIFWIW.

All in all, pretty sweet package IMO:



New radar systems provide greatly improved capabilities

Sweden's ability to detect and manage threats in the air, at sea and in space is being greatly strengthened as FMV and the Swedish Armed Forces are now building a new, high-tech surveillance system. Within the framework of the Sensor System New program, a radar network is being established in several overlapping technical layers – from coastal sensors to systems that extend several thousand kilometers into space, consisting of both active and passive sensors.

FMV has now signed several important agreements with associated options to ensure the delivery of radar systems with different ranges and functions. In total, this involves multi-billion-sek investments.

Multiple overlapping technical layers – greatly expanded coverage

The new radar system offers a vastly improved surveillance capability compared to previous systems from the 1980s. It is specifically designed to detect modern threats such as drones, cruise missiles, hypersonic weapons, ballistic missiles and low-altitude satellites. The system also provides a significantly faster decision-making basis for air defense, aviation and naval operations and also provides better early warning capabilities, both for the response units and for the civilian population.

The new systems can also share information with other NATO countries, which strengthens Sweden's integrated defense.

Scanter 5202 – coastal surveillance radar from Terma

FMV has previously been upgrading its existing coastal surveillance radar, which will now receive new and expanded capabilities. The coastal surveillance radar is supplied by Terma. The system contributes to improved sea situational awareness and improves the air situational awareness at low altitudes. The systems will be delivered continuously from 2025 onwards.

Giraffe 4A and GM200 MM/C – medium-range radar from Saab and Thales

FMV has signed separate agreements with Saab and Thales for the mobile radar systems Giraffe 4A and GM200 MM/C, respectively. The systems contribute to improved air and sea situational awareness and can quickly enhance coverage in priority areas thanks to their mobility. The medium-range systems also provide increased mobility and rapid response capability. The first delivery will take place in 2026.

TPY-4 – long-range radar from Lockheed Martin

FMV has signed a contract for TPY-4, a long-range radar system that is also used by other NATO countries. It provides increased range and higher performance, including for detecting small targets, such as ballistic missiles, at long distances. The system strengthens our early warning capabilities and improves the air situational awareness. The first delivery will take place in 2027.

SMART-L – extra long-range radar from Thales

FMV has also signed an agreement with Thales for a completely new radar system in the Swedish context: SMART-L, a special long-range radar (SLRR) with the capacity to cover large areas and contribute to the space situational picture. It is a new type of radar that gives the Armed Forces capabilities that were previously lacking. SMART-L can also measure ballistic missiles and, for example, send data to the Patriot system, which increases the efficiency of the entire Swedish air and missile defense. The first delivery will take place in 2026.

Sirius compact – Passive sensors from Saab

FMV has signed an agreement with Saab for Passive Sensors (PSS) which complement active sensors in the new Sensor System. The system helps to detect and locate signal sources and provides a supplementary air and sea situation picture.

An integrated system for the defense of the future

The combination of short-, medium-, long- and especially long-range radar systems in conjunction with passive systems represents a major technological leap for the Swedish defense. The systems will be delivered continuously from 2025 onwards. The fact that the procurements have been accelerated means that several years of lead time have been saved.

“We have shortened the process by at least three to four years,” says Fredrik Pålsson, head of information and intelligence systems at FMV.

This initiative lays the foundation for a surveillance system at the forefront of technology – adapted to the modern threat landscape and in close collaboration with allied countries.

Some AD systems news as well, IRIS-T SLM has been ordered as brigade level air defense. Additional news concerning other systems likely to come fairly soon.