French shipbuilder Naval Group has started construction of the first FDI frigate for the Royal Swedish Navy, FDI Luleå, just one month after Sweden signed the contract for four frigates.
The ceremony was led by Rear-Admiral Fredrik Lindén, Head of Naval Systems at the FMV (Swedish Defence Materiel Administration), in the presence of Caroline Vicini, Sweden’s Ambassador to France.
The FDI is combat-ready and boasts proven capabilities across all areas of warfare, notably with powerful anti-air capabilities based on the ASTER system. The frigate is capable of countering current and emerging threats in the demanding waters of the High North and in challenging environments such as the Baltic Sea or the North Atlantic.
The platforms are intended to operate either independently or as part of a naval task group, addressing both current and emerging threats, including advanced submarines, supersonic missiles, and cyber threats. They can incorporate digital systems and data-processing technologies to support operations across a range of mission environments.
Naval Group said that it is fully committed to strengthening its cooperation with Swedish industry through a structured and long-term industrial partnership. Furthermore, the FDI production line is fully operational and capable of delivering at high production rates to rapidly strengthen and modernise fleet capabilities in a particularly challenging operational context.
A total of 13 FDI have been ordered so far, to serve three different NATO navies. The production line remains fully operational with available new delivery slots in 2030.
The first delivery of the Swedish frigate is scheduled in 2030.