The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) has been tasked by the government to begin negotiations with French company Naval Group regarding the acquisition of four new frigates for the Swedish Navy within the Luleå class (named after Luleå, northern Sweden). The negotiations follow the government's down select of Naval Group's FDI frigates, announced earlier this week.

According to FMV, the results of the negotiations are to be reported back to the government before the agency can potentially receive a new assignment to enter into a contract and order the vessels. FMV states that the negotiation process has already begun.

"Ahead of this government assignment, we have prepared a negotiation plan and have therefore been able to commence the negotiation process immediately. However, it is a complex negotiation and ultimately it naturally depends on reaching an agreement with the supplier," says Olof Öhrström, Head of the Naval Vessel Systems unit at FMV.

Naval Group's FDI, the Frégate de Défense et d'Intervention (Defence and Intervention Frigate), is currently in service with the French and Greek navies. FMV describes the vessel as a mature design in series production, which according to the agency provides a relatively high degree of delivery certainty.

NDS reported previously that the government selected Naval Group following a so-called down select. At the press conference on 19 May, Defence Minister Pål Jonson highlighted rapid delivery, technical maturity, cost-sharing with France and Greece, and a proven air defence system as reasons for the selection.

"The intention is to procure a so-called catalogue vessel with as few adaptations as possible. At the same time, it must be integrated into the Swedish Navy, so some Swedish systems will be included, not least weapons systems," says Olof Öhrström.

According to FMV, air defence and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) are the core capabilities. The vessels are to be equipped with Aster 30 and CAMM-ER, as well as Swedish systems including the RBS 15 anti-ship missile, Torpedo 47, Giraffe 1X radar, the Trackfire close-in air defence system from Saab, and 57 mm and 40 mm guns from BAE Systems Bofors.