Today, the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) has handed over the new signals intelligence ship, HMS Artemis, to the Swedish Armed Forces (Försvarsmakten). The vessel replaces HMS Orion and will serve as a new and improved signals intelligence resource at sea. In addition to the signals intelligence equipment installed by the National Defence Radio Establishment (FRA), HMS Artemis is equipped with sensors intended for naval intelligence gathering, FMV states in a press release.

FMV received the vessel from Saab Kockums in April this year. Since then, the National Defence Radio Establishment (FRA) has equipped the ship with signals intelligence equipment. Furthermore, the vessel is equipped with sensors intended for naval intelligence gathering.

FRA states in a press release that the advantage of a ship is that it allows closer proximity to certain signal sources. This enables the collection of signals that would have been impossible to register from greater distances.

According to FRA, Artemis will undertake its first operational mission next year. The agency states that trial operations must be conducted to fine-tune the signals intelligence equipment.

– The shipyard in Karlskrona (southern Sweden) now delivers the first vessel since Saab took over Kockums ten years ago. Today's handover is proof that Sweden has regained the capability to develop and build world-class ships and boats, said Mats Wicksell, CEO of Saab Kockums, during the handover to FMV according to a press release from Saab.

According to FMV, HMS Artemis offers improved manoeuvrability compared to its predecessor. In addition, the vessel will provide an enhanced living environment on board for personnel from both the Swedish Armed Forces and FRA. The ship measures 74.6 metres in length and 14 metres in width and has 35 cabins with 40 berths. 

– This day is eagerly awaited by many, and given the serious times we live in, it could not have come more timely. The need for good defence intelligence capability and a modern signals intelligence ship has never been greater in modern times. The significance of HMS Artemis with its crew can therefore hardly be overstated, says Fredrik Lindén, head of the naval materiel division at FMV.