Sweden to buy four frigates from France’s Naval Group: PM

Sweden’s government said Tuesday that it would buy four new frigates for its navy from France’s Naval Group in what it called “a very large international defence-industrial deal”.

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said the Scandinavian country’s military had analysed which alternatives were available internationally that could meet Swedish demands.

“Based on that analysis, the government has now decided that Sweden will purchase four new frigates in a very large international defence-industrial deal,” Kristersson told a press conference, adding that France’s Naval Group had been selected to supply the frigates.

“This is one of the largest Swedish defence investments since the Gripen fighter jet was introduced in the 1980s,” Kristersson said.

The Nordic country had also evaluated offers from the UK’s Babcock together with Sweden’s own Saab and Spain’s Navantia.