Sweden on Monday formalized a €4.3 billion ($5 billion) purchase of four frigates from Naval Group SA. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and President Emmanuel Macron attended as leaders from Naval Group and Sweden's procurement agency signed the deal on board a French frigate tied up at Stockholm harbor. The ceremony took place on the Amiral Ronarc'h, France's first defense and intervention frigate (FDI).
Sweden selected Naval Group in May ahead of beating rival offers from the UK and Spain, citing among the reasons that one factor cited was that the French multi-purpose ship is already under production.
"The frigates are a major investment in Sweden's maritime security for decades to come," Kristersson said at the ceremony. "They will strengthen Sweden's ability to contribute across NATO as a whole. They will be able to protect both military and civilian sea lines of communication and help keep vital transport routes open," he said. Sweden's warships are due to begin arriving from 2030.
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France and Sweden also signed a framework agreement at the event to deepen collaboration across naval, air, and cyber domains.
