Sweden to ‘evaluate’ adding French long-range strike missiles to new frigates

STOCKHOLM — Sweden will “evaluate and discuss” the potential acquisition of a French naval-based long-range strike capability, the head of the Swedish military told Breaking Defense, but for he’s concentrating on nearer term goals for a new frigate.

“The most important thing for me right now is that we move forward in integrating the Swedish weapon systems and sensor systems that we have included in the contract. So that’s the main topic,” Swedish Commander-in-Chief Gen. Michael Claesson said in an interview. “But of course we will evaluate and discuss the French [long-range naval cruise missile] offer as well.”

Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson said a naval long-range strike capability could be an important next step for Swedish forces.

“The lessons learned from the war in Ukraine are that it is very important to have this kind of long-range precision-strike capability as well. So we have an open mind. The platform we are working on right now [the FDI frigates] is of course predominantly an air-defense and ASW [anti-submarine warfare] platform, but we also have an open mind if it is possible to develop a long-range strike capability,” Jonson told Breaking Defense.

Both Claesson and Jonson spoke Monday on the sidelines of the high-profile signing of a contract between Stockholm and France’s Naval Group for four FDI frigates for some €4.3 billion. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and French President Emmanuel Macron gave speeches at the event aboard the French flagship Amiral Ronarc’h, hailing the contract. (French Minister of Armed Forces Catherine Vautrin and Jonson also signed a framework agreement to strengthen Swedish-French cooperation on operational matters, defense capabilities and industrial development.)

In his speech Kristersson highlighted the inclusion in the contract of air defense capabilities, like the Aster 30 air defense missile.

“Above all, the frigates will become mobile platforms giving Sweden long-range air-defense capability at sea, including protection against the kind of ballistic missiles that Ukraine shows every day must be defended against,” Kristersson said.

But in his speech Macron suggested offensive naval missiles could be in the offing as well in the future.

“And by equipping the Swedish frigates with the Aster missile and possibly with a naval cruise missile, France is not only delivering ships; it is also providing a capability to protect the territories of our allies,” Macron said.

Macron did not identify the cruise missile to which he was referring, but French media reported ahead of the ship signing that Paris was positioning itself to offer MBDA’s MdCN naval cruise missile (Missile de Croisière Naval). The missile was developed for French navy frigates and attack submarines.

Asked about the MdCN, Claesson just told Breaking Defense, “It is an interesting capability.” But he said the integration of Swedish systems on the new ships comes first.

The first of the four frigates is due for delivery in 2030. The Swedish FDI ships will carry a package of national systems, including Saab’s RBS 15 anti-ship missiles, the 47 lightweight torpedoes, Giraffe 1X radars, Trackfire weapon stations, and BAE Systems Bofors 57 mm and 40 mm naval guns are expected, according the Swedish government, in addition to the Aster, also made by MBDA.

Deep Strike In Focus

Less than two weeks ago, a Swedish JAS 39 Gripen launched a Taurus KEPD 350 air-launched cruise missile for the first time. The test was conducted at the Vidsel Test Range in northern Sweden. Taurus gives Sweden its first deep-strike capability.

Jonson said Stockholm needed more. 

“What we are looking into is how we can improve our long-range strike capabilities beyond Taurus,” he said.

Officials stress that no decision has been made to buy a French naval strike missile or to add one to the frigates. Sweden is also part of the European Long-Range Strike Approach (ELSA), Jonson said. That initiative was launched by France, Germany, Italy and Poland in 2024 and later expanded to include Sweden and the United Kingdom.

The contract signed on Monday includes Sylver A50 vertical launch systems. These would have to be replaced with A70 launchers to fire MdCN missiles, the Ministry of Defence told Breaking Defense.