Sweden's FMV Begins Work on Visby Generation II Frigates

Sweden’s Defense Materiel Administration (FMV) has begun work on what will be four new battleships to be called Visby Generation II.

A product definition phase has been initiated which will specify how the vessels are to be constructed and also contain a quote at a fixed price for the production of four vessels.

In January, Saab and FMV signed two agreements valued $23 million (190 MSEK) to work on Visby-class corvette upgrades and acquisition of next-generation of these ships. The contracts cover Product Definition Phase for the Mid-Life Upgrades (MLU) of five Visby-class corvettes, as well as a Product Definition Phase for the next generation; Visby Generation 2 corvettes. The contracts include requirements’ analysis and are respectively the start of the modification work of the five corvettes and the acquisition of the Visby Generation 2.

The Visby Generation 2 is a development of Visby-class version 5 and will be equipped with a modern anti-ship missile system, torpedo system and air defense missile system.

The first Visby-class corvette was launched on June 8, 2000 and today five corvettes are in operational service. The product definition phase regarding Mid-Life Upgrades, aims to make the five ships in the class operationally relevant beyond 2040. In addition to modifying the ships' existing systems, an air defense missile system will be added as a new capability. The RBS15 anti-ship missile system will be upgraded to the latest version as well as will the torpedo system with the new Saab Lightweight Torpedo.