In the helicopter hangar of the frigate Amiral Ronarc'h, two French sailors are warming their hands on a clothes iron. It's below freezing, and there's an icy breeze in the port of Gothenburg. The white tablecloths to be ironed ahead of the ambassador's visit on board remain wrinkled.
"We were recently in Norway, up at the Arctic Circle, and it was warmer there thanks to the ocean currents," says Captain Nicolas Guiraud.
The 122-meter-long, brand-new Amiral Ronarc'h is on its "shakedown cruise," a longer maiden voyage where all systems will be tested before the ship can become operational in the French armed forces. But the visit to Gothenburg is not a courtesy call.
Minister: Decision in the spring
Since 2021, the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration, FMV, has been working on procuring new, larger surface combatants and is now in the final stages.
"We hope to be able to make a decision in the spring, and we are in dialogue with France, Great Britain and Spain," says Minister of Defense Pål Jonson (M) to TT.
He particularly emphasizes that Sweden needs to strengthen its air defense.
"By procuring air defense frigates, we will gain better protection for Sweden against incoming ballistic missiles or cruise missiles."
The frigates, which will be four in number, will be significantly larger than the 70-meter-long Visby corvettes, which are currently Sweden's largest surface combat ships. The frigates will thus be able to stay further out to sea and can protect a larger area, not just their own ship, with their own anti-aircraft missiles. They will also be better at hunting submarines because they can carry a helicopter on board.
SEK 40-60 billion
The price tag is still unknown, but Johan Granlund at the Swedish National Defense University estimates that the deal could end up at between 40 and 60 billion kronor.
French Naval Group is one of the bidders with its FDI frigate. Guillaume Weisrock, sales manager at the company, says that Greece has already ordered four and that France has a total of five of its own in the pipeline.
An FDI frigate can be equipped with 32 Aster 30 missiles.
"Aster 30 is a requirement from FMV when they are selecting the next-generation frigate," says Weisrock.
FMV wants the first frigate to be delivered as early as 2030.
Spain has also launched a charm offensive with its NATO flagship Almirante Juan de Borbón. The frigate, which is manufactured by the Spanish company Navantia, visited Stockholm at the end of January.
But it is not that ship; an even newer one, the Alfa 4,000 model, is being offered to Sweden.
"We can deliver two ships in 2030 and two in 2031. Our main capability is air defense, but also anti-submarine warfare. We have experience in building ships for these waters," Juan de la Cueva, commercial director at Navantia, told Dagens Nyheter in connection with the visit.
The expert: “About the same”
But when it comes down to it, there is no major difference between the different ships, says Johan Granlund at the Swedish National Defence University.
"They are about the same size and have about the same capabilities," he says.
What distinguishes them is instead how far development and manufacturing have come.
"The French offer is ready. The British proposal will be launched first in about a year, or this autumn, I think. And the Spanish alternative does not exist at all; it is still a design," says Johan Granlund.
But it's not always that simple. Deals of that magnitude often involve political aspects that can affect the final price.
"You don't just buy systems, you buy friendship, you could say," says Johan Granlund, and continues:
"There have been a lot of talks between the Swedish defense leadership and the government with France and with the UK, but not at all at the same level with Spain. That's interesting."
The ambassador wants to see partnerships
In the fairway outside the Port of Gothenburg, a container ship and a Stena Line ferry meet. A stone's throw away, Captain Nicolas Guiraud shows off the weapons systems aboard the Amiral Ronarc'h.
On the bridge, French Ambassador Thierry Carlier speaks at length about the friendship and cooperation between France and Sweden.
"In the current geopolitical situation, it is of utmost importance that we have independent defense industries and that we become more autonomous from the United States," he says.
Alice Nordevik/TT
Facts: The new Swedish frigates
TT
The first Swedish frigate will be named HMS Luleå, which means that the entire class will be called the Luleå class. The others will be named after three other coastal cities: HMS Norrköping, HMS Trelleborg and HMS Halmstad.
