Naval Group plots plan to offer FDI frigates to Sweden, teams up with local shipyard

February 11, 2026, by Fatima Bahtić

French shipbuilder Naval Group has revealed plans to offer its next-generation Defence and Intervention (FDI) frigates to Sweden, teaming up with local shipyard Oresund Drydocks to provide maintenance, support, and strengthen the country’s naval capabilities.

Illustration: FDI frigate; Credit: Naval Group

As informed, the company signed the partnership cooperation agreement on February 2, 2026, during the stopover of the FDI frigate Amiral Ronarc’h in Sweden. The vessel, the French Navy’s first FDI frigate, was delivered last October. The frigate is the first unit in this major program of five frigates, designed to strengthen the French Navy’s capabilities and symbolise the renewal and reinforcement of the fleet’s capabilities.

French Navy welcomes first FDI frigate

Vessels

Naval Group has the ambition to offer Sweden the FDI surface combatants. The delivery of frigates to Sweden, with the first possible as early as 2030, would be accompanied by its through-life support capabilities.

Through a partnership with Oresund Drydocks, Naval Group partners for the maintenance and service support of the FDI in Sweden, aiming to optimize fleet availability and ensure long-term sustainability while facilitating knowledge and technology transfer.

This agreement is part of Naval Group’s broader ambition to strengthen the Swedish defence industry and support the Swedish Navy’s evolving needs.

The FDI is a next‑generation surface combatant developed by French shipbuilder Naval Group to meet modern naval warfare demands. Known for its multi‑role capabilities, the FDI is designed to operate independently or as part of a larger fleet, conducting anti‑air, anti‑surface, anti‑submarine, and asymmetric warfare operations.

Measuring approximately 122 metres in length with a displacement of around 4,500 tonnes, the FDI frigate can reach speeds of up to 27 knots and sustain missions for around 45 days without resupply. The ship’s armament includes anti‑air missiles, anti‑ship missiles, anti‑submarine torpedoes, and a main artillery gun, while its sensor suite.

The FDI also has the capacity to carry a helicopter, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), and detachments such as special forces, enhancing its utility across mission profiles.