Babcock teams up with Saab for Swedish Navy future Lulea-class corvettes.

According to a PR published by Babcock on May 16, 2024, the firm has been chosen by Saab to support the design and development of the Swedish Navy’s new Luleå-class surface combatants.
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Artist rendering of the future Luleå-class corvettes. (Picture source: Saab)

Commissioned by the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV), Saab will design four advanced ships for the Swedish Navy. Babcock’s role will focus initially on providing crucial engineering support, including structural design and auxiliary systems, to assist Saab in completing the basic design phase.

The collaboration was officially launched during a visit to Babcock’s Rosyth facility in Scotland. Senior representatives from the Swedish Navy, the UK Royal Navy, FMV, Saab, and Babcock attended the event. This follows the Strategic Cooperation Agreement signed by Saab and Babcock at the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) exhibition in September 2023.

About the Lulea class corvette

The Luleå-class will be the largest corvettes in the Swedish Navy, surpassing the Visby and Gävle classes in size and capability. At over 100 meters in length, these vessels will be equipped to handle a variety of threats, including surface, air, and sub-surface targets. The primary armament will include surface-to-air missiles.

The development of the Luleå-class began in 2020 under the Next Generation Surface Ship (NGSS) project. Saab Kockums is responsible for the design and construction, with hulls being built abroad and outfitting completed in Sweden. The first two ships are expected to be commissioned by 2030, with the remaining two by 2035​.