Sweden's new frigates risk delivery without essential missiles

Sweden faces a potential risk regarding its new multi-billion kronor Luleå-class frigates, which may be delivered without essential weaponry. Currently, no orders have been placed for the necessary missiles.

Stefano Bertuzzi, head of marine systems at MBDA, noted that Sweden has specifically requested the Aster B1NT, the latest version of the air defense missile capable of intercepting ballistic missiles. However, this version is so new that mass production has not yet begun, with the first serial production expected late next year.

Bertuzzi expressed surprise at the specific requirement for the B1NT version and emphasized that securing orders now is critical to ensure delivery by the 2030 target. While MBDA has doubled its total missile production between 2023 and 2025, scaling up to a stable level for specific high-end requirements will take several years.